Acceptance of ICT: Applicability of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to South African Students

We are told that university students are Digital Natives and the diffusion of digital technologies into education holds prospective advantages. However, will students in Africa be prepared to engage with and accept the technology? This study aimed to determine the applicability of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model within a South African higher education setting and to clarify the factors that are influencing students’ intentions to make use of two digital technologies: an eBook and SLMS. 738 ICT students completed a questionnaire to gauge their responses to Performance expectancy (PEx), Effort expectancy (EfEx), Facilitating conditions (FC), Self-efficacy (SE), Anxiety (Anx), Attitude towards using technology (ATT) and Behavioural intention (BI). Statistical analysis was used to develop and assess a model of the factors that are affecting BI. Structural equation modelling was used and the goodness-of-fit test indicated that the model was supported by the data. PEx, FC and EfEx showed high practically significant relationships with BI. SE and ATT as mediators of the model are confirmed, however gender as moderator did not reflect the original findings of UTAUT

Self-Regulation and Metal Well-Being in a Cohort of African Teachers: The Sabpa Study

The aim of this study was to obtain an understanding of the role of self-regulation in the well-being of Black South African teachers working within a highly stressful environment. It also aimed to determine the role of specific sub-constructs of self-regulation in the well-being of the teachers. The quantitative study made use of a cross-sectional design and incorporated Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The group was divided into tertiles according to their levels of self-regulation as reported on the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SSRQ). The descriptive statistics indicated that participants from the first and third tertiles experienced similar levels of stress, but that the group with high self-regulation levels experienced higher levels of well-being than the group with low self-regulation. Correlation analysis confirmed that there is a strong association between self-regulation and mental well-being. With the use of SEM, the nature of the relationship between self-regulation and its sub-constructs and wellbeing was determined. The results indicated that although all of the sub-constructs contribute to well-being, three sub-constructs seem to have a unique contribution to well-being. Lastly, the results indicated that self-regulation performs a similar role in the well-being of individuals from a collectivistic group as individuals with an individualistic orientation

Undergraduate students’ perceptions of factors affecting job satisfaction

Orientation: Globally, people engage in work and sell their services to an organisation in exchange for compensation. This compensation can have a significant effect on employees’ attitude towards their work, resulting in either job satisfaction or job dissatisfaction. A high level of job satisfaction can increase organisational effectiveness and, subsequently, the organisation’s performance, whereas job dissatisfaction can cause employees to be less motivated, which can in turn decrease their productivity, effectiveness and individual performance. Research purpose: This study was conducted with the aim to investigate undergraduate students’ perceptions of the factors affecting job satisfaction. Motivation for the study: Currently, there is a paucity of published research on the views of undergraduate students on the factors affecting job satisfaction. Research approach/design and method: The study took a positivistic research approach, and a quantitative design was used. A stratified quota sampling technique was employed to select the respondents for the study; a certain quota was met in terms of race, gender and faculty of study. In total, 270 undergraduate students participated in the study. Main findings: The empirical results indicated no significant association between the demographic variables (previous work experience, gender, race and field of study) and almost all occupational dimensions of job satisfaction, working conditions and recognition. However, medium to large positive relations were measured between the dimensions of job satisfaction, working conditions and recognition. It was evident from the study that all the dimensions measured are considered important for obtaining job satisfaction in the workplace. Practical and managerial implications: It is important for managers to get an understanding of the views of young people on work-related issues in order to create an understanding of young people’s needs and aspirations, as they are the future permanent labour force, managers and leaders of a country. Contribution/value-add: The study brought to light the views of undergraduate students on the factors affecting job satisfaction

A cross-sectional analysis of the association between age and gender and prescribed minimum benefit chronic disease list conditions among South Africans with concomitant hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia.

Background: Prescribed Minimum Benefit Chronic Disease List (PMB CDL) conditions are a regulated list of conditions most common to South Africa. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and association between PMB CDL conditions and age and gender among patients with concomitant hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Methods: The study population consisted of patients (n = 17 866) with a prescription containing at least one co-prescribed antilipemics, antihypertensive and antidiabetic (identified using the MIMS Desk Reference). ICD-10 codes on claims for PMB CDL conditions were counted. Results: 39.5% of patients had a PMB CDL condition. Women had higher odds for hypothyroidism (OR 6.30, 95% CI; 5.52, 7.19, p < 0.001) and lower odds for coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR 0.63, 95% CI; 0.55, 0.72, p < 0.001) than men. In combination with hypothyroidism the odds for CAD were reversed and strongly increased; 3.54 (95% CI; 2.38, 5.25, p < 0.001). The odds for females having cardiac failure (CF) was insignificant and low (OR 0.87, 95% CI; 0.75, 1.01, p = 0.063); however combined with hypothyroidism, the odds increased to 5.35 (95% CI; 3.52, 8.13, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism was an important discriminating factor for co-morbidity in women with concomitant hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia, in particular with cardiovascular disease

Technological pedagogical content knowledge in South African mathematics classrooms: A secondary analysis of SITES 2006 data

This article reports on a secondary data analysis conducted on the South African mathematics teachers’ dataset of the Second Information Technology in Education Study (SITES 2006). The sample consisted of a stratified sample of 640 mathematics teachers from 504 randomly selected computer-using and non–computer-using schools that completed the SITES 2006 teachers’ questionnaire, which investigated their pedagogical use of Information Communication Technology (ICT). The purpose of the current investigation was to investigate the level of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) of mathematics teachers, and how TPACK attributes contribute towards more effective Grade 8 mathematics teaching in South African schools, using the TPACK conceptual framework. The findings are presented according to the three clusters identified through the association between the main variables of the TPACK model and other variables on the SITES 2006 teachers’ questionnaire: (1) impact of ICT use, (2) teacher practices and (3) barriers. A Cramér V of between 0.3 and 0.4 was considered to signal a medium effect that tended towards practically significant association, and a Cramér V of 0.4 or larger was considered to signal a large effect with practically significant association. The results indicate that the TPACK of mathematics teachers contributes towards more effective Grade 8 mathematics teaching in South African schools

Chemical composition of rain at a regional site on the South African Highveld

Relatively limited data have been published on the chemical composition of wet deposition for South Africa, which is considered an important source region for atmospheric pollutants. Concentrations and wet deposition fluxes of ionic species determined in rain samples collected from December 2014 to April 2018 at a regional site, Welgegund, are presented, and contextualised by wet deposition composition in the northeastern interior of South Africa. 89% of rain samples collected during the sampling period complied with the data quality objectives of the World Meteorological Organisation. The total ionic concentration of rainwater at Welgegund was similar to that at two regional sites located within proximity of industrial activities. The pH of rainwater (4.80) was comparable to that determined at two rural background sites, which indicated increased neutralisation. Similarly to the other sites located in the South African interior, SO42- was the most abundant species in rain, with concentrations thereof in the same order as SO42- levels determined at the two industrially influenced sites. Lower sulphur and nitrogen fluxes at Welgegund were attributed to lower average annual rainfall. The anthropogenic (industrial) source group had the largest contribution to wet deposition chemical composition, which signified the influence of major source regions in the South African interior that impact Welgegund. Relatively large contributions were also calculated from marine and crustal sources. The influence of agricultural activities was also evident, while biomass burning had the lowest contribution due to open biomass burning occurring mainly during the dry seasonPeer reviewe

A model of instrinsic and extrinsic motivations on subjective well–being: the experience of overnight visitors to a national park

According to the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) (Deci and Ryan 1985), intrinsic and extrinsic motivations can be differentiated with levels along a continuum representing distinct self-regulatory styles for behavior. Behavioral regulations consider different degrees to which they represent autonomous or self-determined functioning and specifically intrinsic motivations are characterized by the highest level of self-determination. Past research into the SDT has highlighted correlations between reasons with high levels of autonomy or self-determination for engaging in a particular behavior and enhanced Subjective Well-Being (SWB), as well as positive behavioral outcomes. Little is known about the relationship between visitors’ reasons for visiting a national park, associated self-regulatory styles and their self-appraisals of SWB. Therefore, the present research investigates the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for visiting the Kruger National Park (KNP), associated self-regulatory styles and self-evaluations of SWB among 389 overnight visitors. A structural equation model (SEM) is proposed to examine both the cognitive (life satisfaction) and affective (positive and negative feelings) components of SWB in association to motivations with different degrees of self-determination. Reflecting previous research, the results show that overnight visitors who are more intrinsically motivated have higher life satisfaction levels, higher positive feelings and lower negative feelings. In contrast, overnight visitors who are less intrinsically motivated have lower life satisfaction levels, lower positive feelings and higher negative feeling. The practical implications of these findings are highlighted.http://link.springer.com/journal/1148

Factors predicting community support: The case of a south african arts festival

Events are one of the fastest growing tourism attractions in South Africa. This has various implications for the role players involved in hosting the event, especially the community. It is important to obtain the support and loyalty of residents so that potential conflicts can be avoided. However, residents are not always involved in the planning and management of the event, which raises questions about the real benefits they receive. It is therefore the aim of this research to determine the factors predicting community support in the case of a South African arts festival. A survey was done in 2007 at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK), which is one of the largest arts festivals in the country. A stratified random sampling procedure was followed in the community of Oudtshoorn, and 279 questionnaires were completed by residents. Structural equation modelling was done, based on the study of Gursoy and Kendall (2006), to explore the factors and identify its influence on support for the event. It was found that community attachment, costs and benefits perceived were the most important factors predicting community support for the festival, which differs from the results of previous studies. In the case of this study, ecocentric attitudes and issues of community concern did not influence the level of community support the event was given.Os eventos são uma das atrações turísticas que mais crescem na África do Sul. Isto tem várias implicações para os envolvidos na organização do evento, especialmente a comunidade. É importante obter o apoio e lealdade dos moradores para que os conflitos potenciais possam ser evitados. No entanto, os moradores não estão sempre envolvidos no planeamento e gestão do evento, o que levanta questões sobre os benefícios reais que recebem. É, portanto, o objetivo desta pesquisa determinar os fatores preditores do apoio da comunidade, no caso de um festival de artes sul-africano. Um inquérito foi aplicado em 2007, no Festival Nacional de Artes Klein Karoo (KKNK), que é um dos maiores no país. Um processo de amostragem aleatória estratificada foi seguido na comunidade de Oudtshoorn, e os questionários foram respondidos por 279 habitantes. Foi feita uma modelagem de equações estruturais com base no estudo de Gursoy e Kendall (2006), para explorar os fatores e identificar a sua influência sobre o apoio ao evento. Verificou-se que a ligação à comunidade assim como os custos e benefícios percebidos foram os fatores mais importantes prevendo o apoio da comunidade para o festival, o que difere dos resultados de estudos anteriores. No caso deste estudo, as atitudes ecocêntrica e questões de preocupação da comunidade não influenciaram o nível de apoio da comunidade ao evento

Examining the influence of the wine festival experience on tourists' quality of life

Hosting events and festivals is the best way of providing the wine tourism experience. Wine festivals offer a wide range of experiences that are different from day-today living, offer a lifestyle package and are an indicator of lifestyle tourism experience. Tourists travel to wine festivals for wine and other leisure-related experiences, including opportunities for social and/or cultural experiences, interactivity and personal development. Therefore, wine festivals should provide an experience that can influence the quality of life (QoL) of the attending tourist. QoL is influenced by various life domains, which include social, leisure and recreational, intellectual, culinary, and travel life. By its nature, a wine festival is able to influence life domains, thereby decreasing or increasing the level of satisfaction with QoL, according to the level of satisfactory experience. The purpose of this article is to examine the influence of the wine festival experience on the QoL of attending tourists. The structural relationship between the wine festival experience on tourists’ QoL is shown in a structural equation model (SEM), which is based on the notion that the QoL of attending tourists will be influenced by their level of satisfaction in various life domains. A self-administrated questionnaire was distributed during the Wacky Wine Festival in Robertson South Africa. The data from 329 (N) eligible questionnaires was cleaned, captured and analysed using SPSS. Furthermore, Amos was used to test the structural model providing statistical support. From the study’s findings, managerial recommendations were made with the aim of maximising attending wine tourists’ QoL. The research contributes to the literature related to QoL

Die toepaslikheid van deeltitelheffings in Suid-Afrika

This study challenges the fairness of sectional title schemes' levies that are ordered by the Sectional Title Act (95 of 1986) to be allocated according to the participation quota (floor area) of units. Studies have shown that larger units in a sectional title scheme tend to subsidise the levies of smaller units. A log-transformed linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the cost behaviour of 113 sectional title schemes. The results revealed that 86% of the variation in the operating costs of a scheme is attributable to the variation in the area of a scheme, while 87% of the variation in operating costs is attributable to a variation in the number of units in a scheme. The conclusion is that the area and the number of units in a scheme are equally significant drivers of operating costs. Therefore, the study recommended that the levies should be allocated on a 50/50 basis with regard to area and number of units.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/webx/access/electronic_journals/jefs/jefs_v5_n1_a7.pd