Research Projects Faculty of Humanities

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A qualitative study of perceptions towards suicidal behaviour in relation to academic pressure in university students
(The IIE, 2020) Redondi, Daniela
Within South Africa suicide is the fastest growing and the second leading cause of death amongst university students (Bantjes et al., 2019). This contemporary increase is notably attributed to the relationship between academic related stress and suicidal behaviour (Banerjee et al., 2016). Research done shows that one of the main causes of suicidal thoughts and action is academic related, and due to high pressure put on the students to perform (Bantjes et al., 2017). The present study aimed to identify whether university students perceived there to be a relationship between academic pressure and suicidal behaviour. The data collection method selected for this research was an in-depth interview, specifically a standardised open-ended interview. This method was used so that an in-depth understanding could be made about the topic and meanings could be uncovered. The findings suggested that university students do perceive there to be a relationship between academic pressure and suicidal behaviour, and these findings can be used to show the prevalence of the issue of suicidal behaviour in undergraduate university students within South Africa.
Message-Design Logic and GreenpeaceAfrica’s Facebook Posts: A Qualitative Descriptive Online Questionnaire of South African Millennials’ Sustainability Perceptions and Practices in 2020
(The IIE, 2020) Sukhdeo, Kamishka
This study investigated Facebook and its perceived role in South African Millennials’ sustainability perceptions and practices. The problem was based on the insufficient literature on the perceived influence of social media sustainability messages on peoples’ pro-environmental perceptions and actions, from a South African context. This was addressed by interpreting participants’ responses to determine whether environmental awareness aligned with sustainable action or not. Message-design Logic theoretically guided the study, and central concepts of Expressive, Conventional and Rhetorical Logic were used to thematically analyse participants’ responses. The snowball method was used to acquire five participants and data was collected via an online questionnaire which qualitatively presented participants’ perceptions. The findings suggested that sustainable posts on GreenpeaceAfrica’s Facebook did influence South African Millennials’ sustainable perceptions and practices by first creating environmental awareness which then led to environmental action. This study contributed insight to the Communications field and organisations regarding improving their communication practices targeting people of a similar age group, based on participants’ responses and the findings in this study.
The role of social media at Pegasus Steel South Africa, and the steel industry
(The IIE, 2020) Hardy, Christine
This research report is focused on the role of social media at Pegasus Steel, South Africa and the steel industry. The reasoning for this chosen topic is for the fact that there is a gap in the knowledge of what the role of social media is in the steel industry. It is important with the development in times that all businesses adapt to social media as a lot of companies are introducing it for the fact that it covers a wide range of audience for advertising purposes. The data collection method used was semi-structured interviews because it was best suited for qualitative data collection. The problem that the student encountered while doing the research was that the interviews were to take place during the Covid-19 outbreak. Thereafter, the student needed to change the way in which data was being collected. Therefore, the student’s approach was adapting to the change and using the online platform, Microsoft teams to do the interviews, as this is the channel that Pegasus Steel employees preferred most. The most significant findings were that the role of social media is of importance for predominately marketing and advertising.
An exploratory study on the perceptions men have of traditional masculine gender roles and they influence males
(The IIE, 2020) Monare, Orabile
This section of this paper aims to provide background regarding the study by referring to the main argument in addition to highlighting the specific problem which was examined. It will also highlight the way in which this data was collected in order to elucidate the research findings, as well as to identify the contributions of this research study. This qualitative research study is essentially based on gender roles, specifically the effects of masculine gender roles on males. The aim of this project was therefore to explore the perceptions men have of masculine gender roles and how it could influence men to not express their emotions and feelings. The literature clearly illustrates that adhering to masculine gender roles can cause men to succumb to negative factors such as restrictive emotionally, which is what this research study was based on. It was therefore decided that the best way to obtain this data is by adhering to an interpretivist paradigm by using semi-structured interviews on a sample of five men between the ages of 18 and 25. The results of the data was significant as most of it contradicts the literature. This can therefore contribute towards the known knowledge of the research subject, as the findings highlight the fact that men are aware of the detrimental effects masculine gender roles have on themselves and also on the greater society.
Revitalizing Personal Resources: A study on organizational stress management through the implementation of yoga in the workplace
(The IIE, 2020) O'Fee, Kerrith
Stress is an inescapable component of our daily lives and presents significant risks to people in both their personal and professional lives. Within the context of work, negative stress can significantly harm organizational outcomes making it imperative for companies to effective assist employees in stress management. This study aimed to assess whether the implementation of yoga, as a stress management intervention, would lead to a significant decrease in perceived stress amongst employees. Based on prior research indicating an association between yoga and stress levels in various international contexts, it was hypothesised that results would display a reduction in perceived stress with the implementation of the yoga intervention. Data was collected through the use of the Perceived Stress Scale Survey by Cohen as it is a reliable scientific measure (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.78) providing quantitative values of perceived stress, and data was analyzed using both a dependent and independent samples t-test for analysis. Findings of the study were inconclusive as although yoga was found to significantly reduce stress within the yoga group (t = 4.04, p = 0.0004), the overall decrease in comparison to the control group produced a non-statistically significant difference(t = 0.96, p = 0.35).
An Exploration of the Communication Styles of Women in Managerial Positions Based on the Feminine Communication Style in the Workplace
(The IIE, 2020) Claassen, Kayla
The purpose of this study was to understand how women in managerial positions approach communication styles based on the perceived undermining of the feminine communication style in the workplace (Mohindra & Azhar,2012). Women are evaluated more negatively in leadership roles in comparison to men, even if they display masculine leadership characteristics (Jackson, Alberti & Snipers, 2013). Based on these preconceived views women often take on a masculine approach to leadership, but studies have shown that it lowers competence and perceived effectiveness meaning that the use of the masculine communication approach sounds ideal, but when practice by women it is often less successful (Jackson et al., 2013). The researcher that conducted the study drew five females from a sample who fitted the profile of the sample that was needed. A once off in-depth WhatsApp video call interview was conducted to collect the data the researcher required by asking open-ended questions to ensure that all the necessary information was obtained and that there was a good understanding of the participants. The research findings stated that females have more negative experiences than positive with using both the masculine and feminine communication approach to leadership positions due to the stereotyped characteristics that accompany their gender. For this reason, and despite the undermining of the feminine communication approach, females still felt like the qualities of the feminine communication approach helped them get more out of people and continued to use it. The research showed that the core issue is a lack of studies conducted on the success of the feminine communication style, misunderstanding and misinterpreting of genders linguistic styles and the meaning behind it, as opposed to females not having the desired communication approach or being fit for leadership positions.
The role Instagram influencers have on identity construction: the perceptions of millennial’s in Sandton
(The IIE, 2020) Sithole, Siphumelele
The internet is a global network of computers that has provided the advancement of communication and connection. It has created a social media environment that introduced social networking sites such as Instagram. Instagram began having increased numbers of individuals who call themselves “influencers” who are individuals that construct their identities online and use them for impression management in relationships thus prompting people to see them in a certain or different light. Research about social media influencers is abundant however, less is known about the impact Instagram influencers play in their audience’s identity construction. The purpose of this research was to explore millennials perceptions of the role Instagram influencers play in identity construction. Semi structured interviews were conducted with six participants who are Instagram users between the ages 24-39 years old. Responses were analysed using a thematic analysis and more than two themes emerged. It was found that Instagram influencers do play a role in identity construction to a certain extent by normalising and instilling ideas in people’s minds by frequently creating and posting content about their journeys, luxuries and achievements. The results conclude that Instagram influencers have both positive and negative effects on how young adults construct their identities depending on one’s strength of character.
Exploring the factors that influence the experience of joy in late adulthood: a qualitative study on South African Indian elderly adults, using in-depth interviews
(The IIE, 2020) Dadabhay, Shazia
This dissertation examines the joys of being an Indian South African individual in late adulthood, therefore allowing people to view the elderly in a more positive manner. By examining these joys, the researcher clarifies how middle-aged individuals can accept aging as a normal process that comes with its own joys and benefits, as well as how ageist stereotypes against older people are false. The researcher examines two theories in order to further aid her research. These theories include: the age-related positivity effect, as well as the theory of psychosocial development. The researcher also looks at previous research and identifies themes relating to the research such as, integrity versus despair, subjective wellbeing, social support in old age, and the effects of a positive outlook on wellbeing. The researcher uses an interpretivist paradigm. She uses a qualitative methodology and follows an inductive line of reasoning. Two non-probability sampling methods are used: (1) convenience sampling and (2) purposive sampling. Data has been collected from interviews and published reports. The population parameters of the study include individuals who are elderly, South African, and have an Indian ethnicity. Five themes were ascertained within the conducted interviews, which comprise of interpersonal relationships; religious and/or spiritual affiliation; hobbies and/or daily activities; appreciation of life; and a lack of regret in one’s life. This dissertation finds that interpersonal relationships among other factors, is one of the largest contributors to joy for Indian elderly South African’s.
Describing the impact of using task-shifting approaches in mental-healthcare: A quantitative study of mental health care professionals using questionnaires
(The IIE, 2020) Shongwe, Noxolo Precious
Task shifting is the name given to a process of delegation whereby tasks are moved, where appropriate, to less specialized health workers (WHO, 2008). The mental health care sector in South Africa has a treatment gap between people who need mental healthcare and those who receive it. Various strategies are being implemented to close the treatment gap however they are not long-lasting solutions. Task-shifting is an approach that has successfully worked in combating HIV/AIDS across low- and middle-income countries. This study was done to find out what perceptions mental health care workers have about the task-shifting approach. Key themes that were explored during the study include: low- and high-level mental health care workers, history of task-shifting, mental health care funding and the service pyramid model and COM-B model. Quantitative research was done by using a cross sectional design, an online survey was sent out to twenty participants working in the Mpumalanga province. Data was gathered through the Google docs platform and analysed by using descriptive statistics. The findings showed that mental health care professionals have a positive perception about the approach and are not opposed to it being fully implemented in the mental health care sector and not just in community psychology.
An exploratory study on the perceptions of consumers with regards to how effectively South African restaurants communicate accessibility to the public
(The IIE, 2020) Walsh, Kerry
An exploratory study on the perceptions of consumers with regards to how effectively South African restaurants communicate accessibility to the public. What are consumers’ perceptions on how South African restaurants communicate accessibility? Accessibility can be defined as the quality of being able to be reached or entered. The national disability prevalence rate is 7,5% in South Africa (Statistics South Africa , 2014). Accessibility has a large influence on how a consumer feels about the organisation and the environment that the organisation is in. This research study is to establish whether organisations communicate their accessibility in an effective manner and what organisation can do in order to improve their communication and accessibility standards. This research study made use of open-ended questionnaires that were conducted with eight participants which were each physically impaired consumers or have a relationship and experiences with a physically impaired consumer. Responses were analysed using a thematic analysis where themes were then further analysed. The findings resulted in a mixed response in terms of the knowledge that restaurant employees have around people with disabilities. The most common response was the hope for a standardized rating system in order for accessibility to be easier to understand.
Exploring stress in the nursing profession: A Qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews
(The IIE, 2020) Simon, Danielle Tyla
The present research study is created to explore how nurses perceive the stress associated with their nursing profession. This is due to the fact that stress is an ongoing phenomenon being experienced, it is thus considered necessary to find out factors create this perception of a stressful profession (Koinis et al., 2015). Four nurses both female and male participants were contacted using non-random, convenience purposive sampling. The study is in qualitative nature and made use of semi-structured interviews as a data collection method that allowed participants' perceptions and experiences to be captured, in relation to stress within the nursing profession. In addition, the study used thematic data analysis methods. From this, major findings revealed that for participants, factors that they perceive as stressful in the nursing profession include; long hours, demanding environment and being understaffed. They also suggested that it is vital to find the sufficient ways of coping because there are currently no readily available coping strategies. Findings/contributions and factors indicated that stress in the nursing profession is an ever increasing phenomenon that does not have the sufficient coping mechanisms to reduce stress in the nursing profession.
Exploring the motivation behind studying for a degree: a cross sectional, qualitative study on third year students using interviews
(The IIE, 2020) Dionisio, Cherize
Motivation is the driving force behind why third year students continue to pursue their studies and want to successfully pass. Without motivation it often leads to failure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate what factors contribute to this motivation specific to third year students. This topic is important when looking at the low pass rates of third year students in universities. The aim of this study is to close this gap. Through semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted on five participants, the study aimed to understand what was motivating these third-year students. The responses received were analysed using a thematic analysis which resulted in nine major themes emerging. The results concluded that having a schedule and positive support system was essential in staying motivated, and thus who the student’s spent their time with was vital to their success in their studies. All participants in the study felt a high level of pressure with regards to passing as this would ensure they get a career that pays well. If a student wishes to stay motivated a schedule needs to be created based on their assignments, classes and exams, and remind themselves why they are studying and the purpose behind it.
Exploring the impact of music on studying: A quantitative study on the perceptions of tertiary institutions students, using questionnaires
(The IIE, 2020) Bennett, Paul Michael
The influence of music has been researched often and from different perspectives by researchers from different disciplines. There is however a gap in the research when looking at the perceptions of students’ own experiences with regards to the influence that music has on studying. The study aimed to explore the beliefs of students regarding the relationship between listening to music and the influence that it has on studying. The study was conducted on a sample of 40 participants using an online SurveyMonkey, an online survey platform. This platform allowed participants to provide their own closed-ended answers to the questions. The study found that students perceive music to have a positive impact on their studying experience. The researcher is, however, of the opinion that this perceived positive impact is dependent on the correct combination between the genre, tempo, and volume of the music as well as the student’s personality type and study method. Further research needs to be conducted into the role that specific South African cultures play in achieving these findings as well as determining the combinations of the influencing factors that are most beneficial for each student
The role that cultural differences play on individual perception of brand image
(The IIE, 2020) Mavuso, Sibonelo
Brand communicators need to become aware of difference within cultures and consumer behaviour to stay competitive in today‟s business environment. Even though brands aim to communicate the same image, the image of those brands may still be perceived differently due to differences in cultural values. The aim of this study is to explore how cultural differences among consumers affect the perception of brand image, mainly among young adults in Johannesburg. Previous literature provided evidence that people in different cultures do not process information in the same way (Baldwin, Coleman, Gonzalaz & Shenoy-Packer, 2014). Since brand meaning is to a great extent the result of human interpretation it is thus predicted that brand meanings differ across cultures. The problem being studied is that many times, a brand will need to adapt their offerings to different cultures because the culture is the prime determinant of consumers' attitude and behaviours (Jandt, 2015). To fulfil the purpose of this research a qualitative research approach was applied. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants studying at a higher institution in Johannesburg. To facilitate the data analysis, the main steps of thematic analysis were used. By use of Hofstede‟s Cultural Dimensions Theory the analysis yielded that brand image can have different meanings for individuals, and that culture can influence the way individuals perceive a brand. This study seeks to provide brand communicator's with deep insight into consumers' cultural behaviour, as scholars have previously stated the same brand image cannot hold universal meaning. This is imperative because a clear brand image conveys the success of the product and gives results with increased sales and revenues.
An Exploratory Study on the factors that cause stress and their impact on academic success: A cross-sectional qualitative study on postgraduate students using semi-structured interviews
(The IIE, 2020) Mahlagaume, Sanikie
The following study seeks to explore the factors that cause postgraduate students stress and hoe these affect their academic success. In so doing, the study seeks to discover the discrepancies that may exist between the way postgraduate students handle stress when compared to undergraduate students. This is due to the fact that literature found focused on the undergraduate student whereas those on postgraduate studies focused on the practical aspect (nursing) (Jithoo, 2017; Shete & Garkal, 2015). The study is qualitative in nature implying the use of qualitative methods. Thus, five postgraduate students were selected to partake in the study using non-probability, purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to give participants time to give a detailed overview of what stress means to them and its impact on their lives. Data acquired from the interviews was analysed using Zhang and Wildemuth’s eight step process of qualitative content analysis over a cross-sectional period of time (Maree, 2019). It was found that regardless of past experiences, new experiences made it just as difficult to handle stress. The results suggested that anxiety was a leading cause of stress which resulted in procrastination in terms of focusing on academics, experiencing helplessness (emotionally) and it affected decision-making.
Exploring the effects of social media usage on the development of a healthy self-concept, for its users: a qualitative, cross sectional analysis of public and private tertiary students using in depth interviews
(The IIE, 2020) Moatshe, Oreratile
Social media usage in the 21st century has become common for many individuals for different personal and business purposes. With this increase in the pervasiveness of social media, the effects of social media on how individual’s view themselves is important to investigate. This research study is about exploring the ways in which users of social media interpret the social media content they are exposed to, how they are made to feel or think about themselves as a result of this and whether this effect is positive or negative. In depth interviews were conducted with five participants from tertiary institutions, who currently use social media platforms. The responses of participants were analysed thematically, resulting in the emergence of five major themes. It was found that social media exposure had a negative effect on how users were made to view themselves, including their abilities and worth. This effect, however, was buffered by a personal resilience that individuals demonstrated in response to the negative effects of social media. As a result of this, social media exposure does not negatively affect an individual’s view of themselves as much as it may have once done.
Exploring the psychosocial implications on the management of adolescent Type 1 diabetes: A qualitative study involving healthcare providers, using in-depth interviews
(The IIE, 2020) Mashiane, Michelle
Chronic physical disorders, such as Type 1 diabetes, are conceptualised as an ongoing strain. Treatment methods include daily insulin administration, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise, as well as regular visitations to a diabetes healthcare team. Strand, Brostom and Haugstevedt (2016) argue that managing Type 1 diabetes may be especially demanding during adolescence, when various rapid cognitive, physical and social changes are taking place. The current study, thus, aimed to explore the psychosocial factors that influence the management of adolescent Type 1 diabetes in a South African context, from the perspectives of healthcare providers. Six participants were included using convenience sampling. The researcher embarked on this study from an interpretivist stance in terms of which a qualitative research strategy was employed. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of managing Type 1 diabetes as an adolescent. The results of this study revealed that various psychosocial factors act as risk and resistance factors to self-care behaviours. To be specific: the polarised healthcare system of South Africa, support structures, access to information, as well as the complexities of the adolescent developmental stage.
Exploring problem focused vs emotion focused stress management: a qualitative study on tertiary institution students using in-depth interviews
(The IIE, 2020) Pawson, Megan
The purpose of this research is to determine whether student’s stress management is problem focused or emotion focused, as well as to determine if the current global pandemic has had an impact on the stress that students experience in their daily lives. Stress is seen as a prominent part in tertiary institution students’ lives, however, there is a lack of research on the impact that the pandemic might have on stress experienced by students. This study is qualitative in nature and made use of semi-structured in-depth interviews as a means of data collection to allow participants to share their own subjective experiences related to stress and the pandemic. The sample comprised of five participants who form part of the tertiary institution community ranging between first year students and honours level students, and who experience high levels of stress. More so, thematic analysis was used as a method for data analysis, which identified three themes: Description of stress, Determination of stress management, and Impact of the pandemic. Findings from this research suggested that students relied more on emotion focused stress management, and that the pandemic had a great impact on their academics and physical- and emotional well-being.
Exploring the Perceived Relationship between Parenting Styles and the Development of Adult Personality Traits in Later Life; A Quantitative, Cross Sectional Study using Young Adults and Caregivers, using adapted Questionnaires
(The IIE, 2020) Langford, Matthew
An authoritative approach to parenting, which balances warmth and control is perceived as the most commonly used style of parenting and it is currently unknown if the perceptive use of the authoritarian style of parenting is associated with the development of desirable personality traits in later life. This study aimed to explore the perceived change in the style of parenting in relation to the development of personality traits within young adults in later life. Data was gathered through two questionnaires which were based on Costa and McCray’s (2020), Personality trait theory as well as Baumrind’s’ Four styles of parenting. Data was analysed through the use of descriptive statistics and research was conducted from a positivistic, quantitative perspective. A balance between high and low variations in warmth and control was found to have a relationship with the most desirable development of personality traits and adopting an authoritative, neglectful or uninvolved approach to caregiving is associated with the development of undesirable personality traits within young adults in later life. While more research is necessary to establish the effectivity of various parenting styles, an authoritative style of parenting was found to coincide with the development of the most desirable personality traits.
Mass media's cultivation effect on traditional cultural attire: quantitatively describing downstream shifts in the social identity of tertiary students using questionnaires
(The IIE, 2020) Tandy, Marcia
A culture’s traditional attire represents that culture’s values and beliefs, an individual’s cultural identity and forms part of that individual’s cultural pride. However, not many students have been observed dressing according to their traditional cultural attires; instead, what has been observed in many students is their high levels of engagement with mass media platforms. This research argues that traditional cultural attire is becoming replaced by fashion trends portrayed by mass media platforms, leading to a loss in cultural values and cultural identities within societies. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate if mass media has indeed influenced the decrease in traditional cultural attire being worn amongst tertiary students. This was achieved through the use of a quantitative cross-sectional study, as well as convenience sampling. Data was collected using closed-ended online questionnaires, which were convenient to distribute to a large sample and easy to analyse. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data and the results indicated that mass media has a cultivation effect on traditional cultural attire as it creates a shift in the social identities of tertiary students to minimise their cultural identification through extensive exposure to fashion trends that tertiary students aspire to model.

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