The methodological rigour of South African master’s and doctoral planning theses: 1963-2007

Planning knowledge is increasingly contested while publication pressure on supervisors and their students is mounting. Given these challenges, to what extent has the methodological rigour of South African master’s and doctoral planning theses improved over time? This article examines improvements in methodological rigour of theses completed between 1963 and 2007 by describing how the structure of theses and the use of research designs changed. Data are based on a survey and methodological content analysis of 143 theses sampled by university and programme. Although the structure and ‘science’ of theses improved over time, theses still require better explication of designs, while designs are increasingly limited to case studies and qualitative approaches. It is concluded that a typology of designs for planning research is needed so that students may better choose and explicate their designs

Site-specific rock-fall parameters in a hard rock open pit environment

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Date: 2015/09/11This research report is focussed on rock-fall in an open pit mine. Rock-fall is a well-known hazard in open pit mining, housing, and railway and road cuttings. The prediction of accurate rock-fall trajectories is vitally important to ensure the safe construction and operation of these projects. All current rock-fall software uses stereomechanical impact theory, which assigns Normal and Tangential Coefficients of Restitution (CoR) to a collision where permanent deformation is experienced. The Kinematic CoR describes the amount of energy lost as a ratio between energy before and after impact. The Tangential CoR and Normal CoR are vector components of the Kinematic CoR. Rock-fall modelling is reliant on the specification of a representative Coefficient of Restitution to enable the determination of accurate rock-fall trajectories. This is currently done by adding statistical variation to the CoR to establish different possible rock-fall trajectories. The output is used in rock-fall barrier or geotechnical catch berm design for slopes. Different ways to establish the most applicable CoR for rock-fall modelling were studied through in-situ testing, with associated calculations, software calibration, and laboratory testing. From the in-situ testing, three correlations were found to estimate the trajectories of rock blocks with good accuracy. A negative exponential correlation was found between the impact energy and Kinematic CoR, known as “ESCORSE”, the Energy Specific CoR Selection Envelope. Two separate linear correlations between the Kinematic CoR and Tangential CoR, and, Kinematic CoR and Normal CoR were determined. The influence that this research will have on rock-fall simulations is that the selection of a CoR is not only dependent on the rock type, but also on the energy conditions at impact - once the rock has passed the elastic impact boundary, the greater the impact energy the greater the energy loss due to fracturing. Further study is needed to define the ESCORSE for softer and harder rock types, including the linear relationships between the Kinematic CoR and Tangential CoR, and, the Kinematic CoR and Normal CoR

Is spatial integration socially sustainable?

This article raises the question whether spatial integration is socially sustainable in a South African context. This is an important question given that settlements remain socially unsustainable despite several years of integrated planning and the inclusion of spatial integration measures in post-apartheid urban spatial policy. A review of literature and existing research about the relation between spatial integration and social sustainability suggests that the question is still inconclusive and that further empirical research is needed about social ‘responses’ to spatial integration in a South African context. It is concluded that such research should be done as basic and applied research to improve planners’ understanding of the relation between spatial integration and social sustainability and to better inform integrated planning.&nbsp

Social Ingredients and Conditional Convergence in the Study of Sectoral Growth

In this research article, we investigate the improved modelling ability and the outstanding policy advocacy of infusing health and education in sectoral growth equations of the South African economy. Our findings not only include improved and dependable modelling results but also provide distinct estimates of the returns on investment in health and education per sector using Iterative Seemingly Unrelated Regressions techniques. Additionally, this paper provides a theoretical description of the productivity effects of HIV/AIDS using sectoral equations. Also, this research investigates the diffusion process in the technological progress at the South African sectoral level and its impact on the study of social ingredients. Using a fixed effects model, some features of the diffusion process are explained.Coefficient of effectiveness, Diffusion process, Fixed effects model, Seemingly Unrelated Regressions

Residents’ perceptions of the importance of outdoor spaces and neighbourliness for medium-density mixed-housing in South Africa

Medium-density mixed-housing is promoted in various countries as a means toward creating more sustainable settlements. It does, however, require residents to live closer to their neighbours, share outdoor spaces, and be more neighbourly than what may typically be required in lower density suburban neighbourhoods. Yet, how important are outdoor design and neighbourliness for the success of medium-density mixed-housing in a South African context? This article examines the perceived importance of a number of outdoor design and neighbourliness factors from the point of view of residents living in such developments in South Africa. A survey of 300 residents across 10 developments reveals the importance of both outdoor design and neighbourliness, particularly if children, women, and older residents are involved. Planners and designers should, therefore, include sufficient private and common outdoor spaces to address the needs of residents and to promote neighbourliness and consequently the social acceptability of this type of housing in South Africa

Social Ingredients and Conditional Convergence in the Study of Sectoral Growth

In this research article, we investigate the improved modelling ability and the outstanding policy advocacy of infusing health and education in sectoral growth equations of the South African economy. Our findings not only include improved and dependable modelling results but also provide distinct estimates of the returns on investment in health and education per sector using Iterative Seemingly Unrelated Regressions techniques. Additionally, this paper provides a theoretical description of the productivity effects of HIV/AIDS using sectoral equations. Also, this research investigates the diffusion process in the technological progress at the South African sectoral level and its impact on the study of social ingredients. Using a fixed effects model, some features of the diffusion process are explained.Coefficient of effectiveness; Diffusion process; Fixed effects model; Seemingly Unrelated Regressions

Playing time of professional senior rugby players across all levels of South African rugby, 2007 -2012: implications for transformation

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.A single governing body to govern South African rugby was formed in 1992. This allowed for changes to governmental policies to South African sport, resulting in South African sport being fully representative of the population. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) therefore has a continual challenge to make rugby fully representative at both provincial and national levels. Previously rugby has been dominated by white players at all levels. The SARU has implemented various programmes in order to accelerate the development of players of colour. Previously the success of these programmes has not been evaluated because the players representing different ethnic groups have not been quantified in a systematic way. The aim was to quantify playing time and playing numbers of South African professional rugby players of different ethnic groups from 2007 to 2012 at all professional levels (Springboks, Super Rugby, Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup). Quantifying playing time and playing numbers was done to establish changes in profile of South African rugby players across the given time period. Thus the efficacy of the SARU programmes to accelerate transformation was indirectly evaluated. A further aim was to determine if there had been a change in ethnic profiles between the various rugby unions from 2007 to 2012

Can we augment web responses with telephonic responses to a graduate destination survey?

The 2010 Western Cape graduate destination survey utilised a sequential mixedmode design in which an initial web survey was augmented with an equivalent telephonic survey. This article examines mode effect in the Western Cape survey in terms of overall effect size and the bearing it had on the main outcome of the study. Standardised residuals and Cramér’s V are used to determine mode effect across two scenarios, a full sample vs. a subsample, and using two categorical questions with different numbers of response categories. Overall effect size appears to be small in the first question, but increases noticeably together with non-responses in the second question that has many more response categories. Web responses to alumni or graduate destination surveys can perhaps be augmented with telephonic responses if necessary, provided response categories are kept to a minimum, and interviewers are trained properly and monitored for possible interviewer misbehaviour. The benefit of obtaining larger samples should then also outweigh the benefit of using web surveys alone.Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC).http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/caeh202017-11-30hb2016Town and Regional Plannin

A typology of designs for social research in the built environment

Thesis (PhD (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this metamethodological study was to construct a typology of designs for social research in the built environment, i.e., architecture, urban design and planning. Currently there is no such typology, while the notion of “research design” is relatively unknown in methodological literature in the built environment field. An outline of the dimensions of social research provided a theoretical lens for methodological analysis, and identified six methodological considerations as classification criteria, including (1) research context, (2) research aim, (3) research purpose, (4) methodological paradigm, (5) methodological approach, and (6) source of data. Exploratory interviews and a survey and methodological content analysis of built environment theses provided a better understanding of methodological issues in conducting social research in the built environment and the potential relevance of a typology of designs. A review of methodological literature identified 25 research design subtypes that can be clustered into 10 prototypical designs for inclusion in the typology, namely: (1) surveys, (2) experiments, (3) modelling, simulation, mapping and visualization, (4) textual and narrative studies, (5) field studies, (6) case studies, (7) intervention research, (8) evaluation research, (9) participatory action research, and (10) metaresearch. A survey and methodological content analysis of journal articles determined the extent to which these designs feature in social research in the built environment. Although all the designs and subtypes feature, metaresearch, case studies, evaluation research and surveys predominate. An initial typology classified the 10 prototypical designs in terms of the six methodological considerations. The typology was tested to see how well it classified the designs of actual studies and revised accordingly. Possible benefits of the typology include greater clarification, improved teaching and decision-making, and methodological reflection. Thus, the typology may support lecturers, students, supervisors, researchers, peer-reviewers and practitioners to have a more articulate, reflexive, and critical orientation with regard to research design to maximize the validity of findings and advance theory, methodology and practice in built environment disciplines. The study concludes that the typology may also mitigate post-modern criticisms against social research in the built environment.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie metametodologiese studie was om `n tipologie van ontwerpe vir sosiale navorsing in die bou-omgewing (d.w.s. argitektuur, stadsontwerp en beplanning) te konstrueer. Tans is daar geen so tipologie nie, terwyl die nosie van “navorsingsontwerp” relatief onbekend is in metodologiese literatuur in die bou-omgewing veld. `n Uiteensetting van die dimensies van sosiale navorsing het `n teoretiese lens vir metodologiese analises verskaf en ses metodologiese konsiderasies as klassifikasie kriteria geïdentifiseer, insluitend (1) navorsingskonteks, (2) navorsingsoogmerk, (3) navorsingsdoelwit, (4) metodologiese paradigma, (5) metodologiese benadering, en (6) data bron. Verkennende onderhoude en `n opname en metodologiese inhoudsanalise van bou-omgewing tesisse het `n beter begrip van metodologiese kwessies in sosiale navorsing in die bou-omgewing en die moontlike relevansie van `n tipologie van ontwerpe verskaf. `n Oorsig van metodologiese literatuur het 25 navorsingsontwerp subtipes geïdentifiseer wat in 10 prototipe ontwerpe gegroepeer kan word vir insluiting in die tipologie, naamlik (1) opnames, (2) eksperimente, (3) modellering, simulasie, kartering en visualisering, (4) tekstuele en narratiewe studies, (5) veldstudies, (6) gevallestudies, (7) intervensie navorsing, (8) evaluasie navorsing, (9) deelnemende aksie navorsing, en (10) metanavorsing. `n Opname en metodologiese inhoudsanalise van joernaal artikels het die mate waartoe hierdie ontwerpe in sosiale navorsing in die bou-omgewing voorkom bepaal. Alhoewel al die ontwerpe en subtipes voorkom, is metanavorsing, gevallestudies, evaluasie navorsing en opnames predominant. `n Aanvanklike tipologie het die 10 prototipe ontwerpe in terme van die ses metodologiese konsiderasies geklassifiseer. Die tipologie is getoets om te sien hoe goed dit die ontwerpe van werklike studies klassifiseer en dienooreenkomstig gewysig. Moontlike voordele van die tipologie sluit in verbeterde klarifikasie, onderrig, besluitneming en metodologiese refleksie. Die tipologie kan dus dosente, studente, studieleiers, navorsers, beoordelaars en praktisyns ondersteun om `n meer geartikuleerde, refleksiewe en kritiese oriëntasie ten opsigte van navorsingsontwerp te hê om die geldigheid van bevindinge te maksimeer en teorie, metodologie en praktyk in bou-omgewing dissiplines te bevorder. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die tipologie ook postmoderne kritiek teen sosiale navorsing in die bou-omgewing kan mitigeer

Developing research skills for the future workplace through interdisciplinary near-peer mentoring

Experiential learning is touted as an effective way of imparting research skills. This suggests that master’s students undergoing training in research psychology should be exposed to managing projects and supervising interdisciplinary research teams and projects before entering the workplace. The Department of Psychology and Department of Town and Regional Planning at a South African university developed a near-peer mentoring programme in which the psychology master’s students mentored undergraduate urban planning students who were writing their final-year research reports. Focus group discussions with the psychology students about their experiences of the programme were analysed using phenomenography. The psychology students experienced their role as mentor in five hierarchical variations. The first four were seen as challenging, while the benefits were only experienced at the highest level of the hierarchy. Lessons learnt from the mentoring relationship that mirror certain workplace research skills are discussed followed by recommendations for improving the mentoring programme.An earlier version of this article was presented as a paper at the 9th International Conference on Social Science Methodology held from 11–16 September 2016, Leicester, United Kingdom.The Department of Higher Education and Training.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/raer202021-02-02hj2019PsychologyTown and Regional Plannin