11 research outputs found
Personal characteristics that predict South Africans’ participation in activities of their children’s schools
We investigated the extent to which personal characteristics such as age,marital status, education level, living standard measure (LSM), environmental milieu, race, gender and employment status predict parents’ participation in the activities of their children’s schools. The data used for analysis were drawn from 5,734 South Africans aged 16+ years who participated in the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) annual South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS). Respondents (n = 1,364) who had at least one child in school were selected for the analysis. The logistic regression model was used to estimate the extent to which personal characteristics would predict parents’ level of participation. Results showed that personal characteristics such as age, marital status, gender, and living standard measure (LSM) had a significant influence on parental participation. Amongst these, gender was the most significant factor. Respondents aged 35–49 years were 1.5 times more likely thanthose aged 50+ years to participate in their children’s school activities. Respondents who were married were more likely than those who had never married to participate. Mothers were more likely than fathers to participate in their children’s school activities. The literature suggests that American fathers show some interest in participating in activities of their children’s schools, at least in the first few years, but discontinue that participation in time. The results confirm a common belief in some communities in South Africa that fathers do not take seriously their responsibility to provide for their children and their partners in that regard from the onset. Even though the results on personal characteristics support existing theory and empirical literature on parental participation, a multidimensional perspective is needed that would incorporate other factors intothe study
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Surveys: scientific predictions or navel gazing?
The aim of this article is to interrogate the nature of survey research as a scientific tool in general and to trace the development of its use in political and government settings, especially in South Africa to predict election results. The study strives to establish whether or not some pre-election surveys in South Africa rely on inadequate methodology, or else succumb to political pressure to produce predictions that favor a certain party. Attention is directed to issues of reliability and the validity of survey results that can predict the outcomes of elections with a high degree of accuracy.
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South Africans' attitudes to social integration in schools
The aim of this paper is to examine the changes in attitudes of South Africans towards integratin in schools, using data gathered for the SASAS survey from 2004-2005.
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Personal characteristics that predict South Africans' participation in activities of their children's schools
We investigated the extent to which personal characteristics such as age, marital status, education level, living standard measure (LSM), environmental milieu, race, gender and employment status predict parents' participation in the activities of their children's schools. The data used for analysis were drawn from 5,734 South Africans aged 16+ years who participated in the Human
Sciences Research Council's (HSRC) annual South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS). Respondents (n = 1,364) who had at least one child in school were selected for the analysis. The logistic regression model was used to estimate the extent to which personal characteristics would predict parents' level of participation. Results showed that personal characteristics such as age,
marital status, gender, and living standard measure (LSM) had a significant influence on parental participation. Amongst these, gender was the most significant factor. Respondents aged 35-49 years were 1.5 times more likely than those aged 50+ years to participate in their children's school activities. Respondents who were married were more likely than those who had never married to
participate. Mothers were more likely than fathers to participate in their children's school activities. The literature suggests that American fathers show some interest in participating in activities of their children's schools, at least in the first few years, but discontinue that participation in time. The results confirm a common belief in some communities in South Africa that fathers do not take seriously their responsibility to provide for their children and their partners in that regard from the onset. Even though the results on personal characteristics support existing theory and empirical literature on parental participation, a multidimensional perspective is needed that would incorporate other factors into the study.
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Teach the parents well
Parents' participation in their children's school activities is an important facet of successful education. Children gain better scores and improve in academic achievement when their parents work hand-in-hand with the school. RONNIE MMOTLANE, LOLITA WINNAAR and MBITHI WA KIVILU did a survey on who are the parents that get involved in their children's schools.
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The glue that binds or divides: social trust in South Africa
The recent hosting of the 2010 World Cup has reinvigorated debates about social cohesion and the extent to which South Africans are united. Central to the argument of social cohesion is the notion of social trust, also referred to as generalised or interpersonal trust. In this article RONNIE MMOTLANE, JARE STRUWIG and BEN ROBERTS examine the extent to which South Africans express trust in each other, how we compare to other countries, as well as individual characteristics associated with trust.
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Crime and social cohesion: investigating public perception: secondary data analysis report
Apri
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South African voter participation in elections: focus groups report 2008
Commissioned by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC
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IEC voter participation survey report 2008
Commissioned by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Marc