3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/45
Browse
10 results
Search Results
Item The role of personality in the relationship between feeling bored and decision-making competence: a study of managers in the retail industry(2016) Du Preez, MagdaDespite the increased work on emotions in organizations, there is a lack of research on the impact of feeling bored in managerial decision-making contexts. Feeling bored was defined, and an expansion to the Hybrid Process Decision-Making Model was proposed. Using this revised definition of feeling bored and the Expanded Decision-Making Process Model, an empirical study with retail middle managers was conducted to examine the relationships between feeling bored and decision-making competence and the role of personality. Results found that feeling bored has a significant negative association with middle managers’ confidence levels, risk perception and decision rules. Results confirmed that personality plays a moderating role in the relationship between feeling bored and decision-making competence. Most notably, the personality trait learning neutralizes the negative effects of feeling bored on decision-making competence, whereas the personality trait sociability has a varied effect depending on which end of the valence/arousal continuum feeling bored is experienced. Limitations to the study, and practical implications for retail organizations, middle managers and for future research, are outlinedItem Personality and body perception of students with a propensity to develop binge eating disorder(2012) Maistry, SainthaThe primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between binge eating disorder and personality traits. Studying personality characteristics may eventually enable us to identify individuals at heightened risk for developing binge eating, and to use this information to design more effective prevention and early intervention strategies. 138 females and 42 males participated in this study. Questionnaires using the EDI, EAT-26 and 16PF as well as an interview schedule were adopted for the study. Results revealed that there appeared to be a significant positive relationship between the EAT-26 and factor O (apprehension-self assured) and factor Q 4(tension-relaxed). There appears to be a significant positive relationship between the EDI and factor I (sensitive versus tough minded), factor L (suspicious versus accepting), factor O (insecure versus complacent) and factor Q4 (tense versus relaxed and easy going). Factor O (apprehension-self assured) appears to predict the scores obtained on the EAT-26 and the propensity to develop binge eating disorder. Factor O (insecure versus complacent) and Q4 (tense versus relaxed) were able to predict the scores on the EDI and the propensity to develop binge eating disorder. Secondary aims of the study revealed that there appears to be a relationship between body image disturbance and the total EAT-26 and EDI scores respectively. This means that participants scoring high on the body dissatisfaction subscale of the EDI will also score higher on the EAT-26 total. There appeared to be a positive relationship between gender of the participants and the total scores of the EAT-26 and EDI respectively. There were 2 interviews carried and the results of the interviews reinforced the quantitative data and previous research on binge eating disorder (Belangee et al, 2003) that personality traits are link to the development of binge eating disorder.Item Trauma in the South African Police force : personality and coping as risk factors for developing post-traumatic stress disorder.(2014-07-03) Waterston, DanielleThe South African service (SAPS) has a reputation for being resilient despite the amounts of trauma they are exposed to. Research has shown that this occupation is one of the most stressful. However, research surrounding the SAPS suggests that police work is one of society’s most stressful occupations. The way in which individuals respond to such traumatisations is dependent on numerous factors, two being personality and coping. In so far, this study investigated three main areas around police reservists – a unit within the SAPS - in order to understand their responses to trauma: whether personality factors were related to post-traumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) in the police reservist population; whether coping moderated the relationship between personality factors and PTSS; whether a personality factors predict coping style. A quantitative analysis was conducted among a sample of 36 reservists in the Gauteng area of South Africa. This study found that the relationship between Neuroticism and PTSS is mediated by coping, specifically Emotion-Focused and Dysfunctional Coping styles. A relationship between Conscientiousness and PTSS showed to be prevalent, however this is not due to the mediation affect of coping. Furthermore, Neuroticism and Extraversion showed to predict coping style. Specifically, Neuroticism showed to affect EFC and DC and Extraversion showed to affect EFC. The descriptive statistics showed that this sample of police reservists is suffering from PTSD. Implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are explored.Item Examining the relationship between executive function and superstitious and paranormal beliefs.(2013-04-04) Schneider, CandiceRecent research has suggested possible relationships between neuropsychological functioning and belief in superstitious and paranormal phenomena. The prefrontal cortex is of particular interest in this regard, as executive function and the mechanisms associated with faulty reasoning ability may maintain superstitious and supernatural beliefs. The present study investigated the relationship between executive function and superstitious and paranormal beliefs, in order to examine the extent to which the executive function abilities of individuals who subscribe to such beliefs differs from that of individuals who do not believe in such phenomena. The sample consisted of 43 male and female university students, between the ages of 21 and 28, from various ethnic groups. A non-experimental, cross-sectional, between-subjects, correlational mixed methods design was employed. Quantitative data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, a Modified Paranormal Beliefs Scale, the Neuroticism subscale of the NEO PI-R and an executive function and logical reasoning test battery. Qualitative data was collected by means of interviews. Few significant correlations were found between demographic variables and superstitious and paranormal beliefs, Neuroticism and executive function scores respectively. Relationships between Neuroticism and superstitious and paranormal beliefs were minimal. Both positive and negative correlations were found between superstitious and paranormal beliefs and executive function scores, suggesting that other neuropsychological factors may underlie illogical beliefs. Qualitative data revealed that superstitious and paranormal beliefs were perpetuated because of their links to familial environment and culture and beliefs assisted individuals in managing anxiety about the unknown by instilling a sense of control over the future. These results suggest that other neuropsychological mechanisms, such as emotion, may play a more significant role than executive function in superstitious and paranormal beliefs.Item Capacity for complexity, intelligence and personality.(2012-07-09) Comaroff, YaelThe chaos and instability which dominates the organisational environment of today often leads to complexity – continuous ambiguity and change. Leaders and managers are required to be able to make effective decisions in these highly abstract circumstances hence selecting and managing employees who have the capacity to handle complexity has become of great importance (Yuksel, 2011). The Career Path Appreciation (CPA), which is an interview-based technique assessing complexity, has become popular in the South African context however it is extremely costly and organisations need to be assured that the financial expense results in a valid, reliable and unique assessment. Therefore, this research explored the associations between three different assessment measures: the (CPA), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-III) and the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). The aim of the study was to investigate whether personality and/or intelligence were associated with one’s capacity for complexity in any way and whether the CPA was distinct in any way from other personality and/or intelligence measures. The research was based on archival data collected from a final sample of 266 managers from a large international manufacturing organisation situated in South Africa. The only biographical information attained was for age of the individuals. Correlation results found that only one of the subscales of the WAIS-III, Similarities, was significantly and moderately correlated with current capacity for complexity. In terms of future potential, only Similarities and Block Design were found to have significant positive correlations. Many more of the personality factors were found to be related to capacity for complexity. Current capacity for complexity was moderately correlated with Achievement via Independence, Independence, Empathy, Social Presence, Capacity for Status and Flexibility. For future capacity for complexity, significant moderate relationships were found with Flexibility, Social Presence, Achievement via Independence, Intellectual Efficiency, Sociability and Empathy. Chi-Squared Tests of Association were conducted to assess the nominal data of CPA Style, which found that of all the WAIS-III subscales and overall scales, only Digit Symbol Coding, Similarities and Block Design showed evidence of significant relationships. Five CPI factors proved to be significantly associated with CPA Style: Empathy, Tolerance, Achievement via Independence, Intellectual Efficiency and Psychological Mindedness. A series of multiple regressions were conducted in order to find out which personality and intelligence facets predicted current and future capacity for complexity. It was found that forty-one percent of the variance in current capability was explained by age, Dominance, Sociability, Independence, Good Impression, Wellbeing, Achievement via Independence, Similarities and Block Design. In terms of future capability forty-eight percent of the variance in Mode was explained by age, Dominance, Social Acceptance, Good Impression, Achievement via Independence, Flexibility, Similarities, Block Design and Comprehension. The research concluded that the CPA assessment is a highly effective and unique technique for outlining an individual’s capacity for complexity even though it is an extremely costly assessment tool in South Africa. Although aspects of the WAIS-III and the CPI were found to be related to capacity for handling complexity, these results were not strong enough to conclude that the WAIS-III and the CPI overlap with the constructs measured in the CPA or could be used in its place.Item Adapting the NEO-PI-3 for a South African context : a pilot study using a South African student population.(2011-05-13) Quy, G. S.The trait approach to personality is one of the most influential epistemological frameworks in personality psychology and underlies the development of most objective personality inventories. The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) is amongst the most widely used operationalisations of the FFM within personality assessment (Costa and McCrae, 1992). However, recent research (Franklin, 2009; Laher, 2010) suggests that the NEO-PI-R is not wholly applicable within the South African context; as there may be inappropriate items contained within the inventory, both linguistically and culturally. Within the United States, McCrae, Costa and Martin (2004) identified the NEO-PI-R as having specific problematic items, and developed the NEO-PI-3 as a revised “more readable” version of the NEO-PI-R. Thirty-seven items were changed from the original 240 items in the NEO-PI-R to create the NEO-PI-3. However, the modifications made to the NEO-PI-3 did not address all the issues pertinent within the NEO-PI-R from a South African perspective as evidenced in Laher’s (2010) and Franklin’s (2009) studies. This study adapted the NEO-PI-3 by changing specific items informed through Franklin (2009) and Laher’s (2010) research, as well as research conducted within this study on two samples of university lectures at the University of the Witwatersrand. Forty-nine items were changed from the original 240 NEO-PI-R items, retaining 30 items changed from the NEO-PI-3, and preferring 3 of the original NEO-PI-R items to the NEO-PI-3 items. These changes were aimed at making the NEO-PI-3 a more appropriate and applicable instrument both culturally and linguistically within the South African context. This modified inventory was then administered to 175 students at the University of the Witwatersrand to test the inventory’s validity and reliability. The reliability of this modified inventory was assessed through conducting an internal consistency analysis generating alpha coefficients indicating that the inventory was indeed reliable. The construct validity of this modified inventory was assessed through an exploratory factor analysis where five factors did emerge from the analysis; concomitant with the theoretical basis of the FFM. Based on feedback from the participants, both quantitatively and qualitatively, recommendations for future research and further problematic items are identified and discussed. In terms of the reliability of the modified version of the NEO-PI-3, internal consistency coefficients produced within the study suggested that the instrument is reliable, producing moderate to good alpha values, as well as producing evidence of good construct validity. Only 17 items emerged as still being potentially problematic within the modified version of the NEO-PI-3.Item Exploring language bias in the NEO-PI-R(2010-03-08T06:49:14Z) Franklin, Dee RossThe study explores language bias in the NEO-PI-R both quantitatively and qualitatively. A sample of 28 postgraduate psychology student volunteers completed a questionnaire containing the NEO-PI-R and two open-ended questions about the instrument. These responses were then analysed across English first language and second language speakers to explore issues of bias. Reliability of the NEO-PI-R appeared to be robust at a domain level. The reliability of the facets, while appropriate for the most part, still yielded low alpha coefficients for the Excitement-seeking, Actions, Values and Straightforwardness facets. ANOVA’s at the domain and facet scale levels indicated no significant differences across home language. However ANOVA’s at the item level yielded 33 in total that were problematic, comprising of 12 items that were significant at the 5% level of significance and 21 items at the 10% level of significance. These items were primarily from the N and E domains. Thematic analysis of the open-ended questions of the questionnaire indicated 26 items were difficult to understand and/or inappropriate for the South African context. These items were primarily from the E and A domains. From the original sample of 28 volunteers, two focus groups were formed, comprising of volunteers from the initial sample. The focus groups explored several qualitative issues, including concepts of personality, language and culture and the applicability of the NEO-PI-R for South African user groups. It was perceived that there is a presence of American socio-cultural references within the use of language, grammar and socio-cultural context in the instrument. Thus the results show evidence of language bias in the NEO-PI-R, and subsequently identify particular aspects and items of the instrument that are especially problematic for a South African user group. The present study suggests that the NEO-PI-R would need to be revised to suit the South African context by changing the problematic items.Item Personality profiles in the 16 PF correlated with measures of distress in the Fisher's Divorce Adjustment Scale in divorced men.(2009-06-24T05:00:22Z) Maharaj, Salisha BogothiepersadhResearch in the field of divorce has primarily focused on women and children, and there is a definite lack of literature that addresses divorce from a male perspective. This lack of knowledge has influenced the clinical treatment and general social support available to men who get divorced. This study aims to explore which, if any, of the personality factors in the 16PF are correlated with adjustment to divorce using the Fisher Divorce Adjustment scale in South African men. The divorce-stressadjustment perspective was used to conceptualise adjustment to divorce and the factors that influence adjustment to divorce (Amato, 2000). The sample consisted of South African men who were divorced. A sample size of 40 participants was obtained using convenient sampling. The results of the study indicated that the personality factors ‘Anxiety’ and ‘Emotional Sensitivity’ are significantly and negatively correlated to adjustment to divorce. This indicates that aspects of personality that relate to a robustness of ego, low anxiety and a self-confident individual who is emotionally mature, is more likely to adjust significantly better to divorce and thus contribute significantly to the well-being of an individual post divorce.Item Suicide ideation and the five factor model of personality in young adults.(2008-12-23T07:24:47Z) Tryon, ShantallSuicidal behaviour is a serious public health problem throughout the world. International as well as South African data suggests that young adults in their twenties are at high risk for suicidal behaviours. The identification of depression as a risk factor for suicidal behaviour is well established and accumulating empirical evidence indicates that certain personality traits may increase individual vulnerability to suicidality. However few studies have controlled for the influence of depression on the relationship between personality traits and suicidal behaviour. The central aim of this study was to establish whether a relationship exists between personality and suicidal ideation, which includes Negative Ideation (suicide ideation) and Positive Ideation (protective factor against suicidal behaviour) in a sample of 83 university students aged 22 to 29 years. The impact of depression on the relationship between personality traits and suicide ideation was considered as a potential confounder and controlled for in the assessment of the relationship. The prevalence rate of suicide ideation was also assessed. Data from the participants was collected through the administration of three self-report inventories: the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory, (PANSI), the NEO-PI-R personality inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The prevalence rate of suicide ideation of the sample was determined by utilizing the frequencies calculated with regard to the PANSI Negative Ideation (suicide ideation) and Positive Ideation (protective factor against suicidal behaviour) scales respectively. Findings indicated that about 1 in 6 young adults had recently thought about killing themselves. Spearman’s correlations were employed to investigate the relationship between suicide ideation and personality traits, depression and suicide ideation, and depression and personality, respectively. In addition, Spearman’s partial correlation was employed in order to factor out the influence of depression on the relationship between personality and suicide ideation. Analysis of the correlations revealed the following. A weak to moderate positive significant correlation between Negative Ideation (suicide ideation) and Neuroticism (r = 0.318, p = 0.003), and a weak to moderate inverse significant correlation between Negative Ideation and Extraversion (r = -0311, p = 0.004), and Conscientiousness (r = -0.384, p = 0.000), respectively. A weak to moderate inverse significant correlation between Positive Ideation (protective factor against suicidal behaviour) and Neuroticism (r = -0.347, p = 0.001), a moderate positive correlation between Positive Ideation and Extraversion (r = 0.504, p <.000), and a weak to iii moderate positive correlation between Positive Ideation and Conscientiousness (r = 0.382, p = 0.000) were found. BDI scores were significantly correlated with higher Negative Ideation scores (r = 0.611, p <. 000) and inversely related to Positive Ideation scores (r = -0.458, p <.000). This indicates a moderate positive association between depressed mood and suicide ideation and a moderate inverse association between depressed mood and Positive Ideation. BDI scores also correlated significantly with Neuroticism (r = 0.574, p <. 000), Extraversion (r = -0.397, p = 0.000) and Conscientiousness (r = -0.474, p <.000). This indicates a moderate positive association between depressed mood and Neuroticism, and a weak to moderate inverse association between depressed mood and Extraversion and Conscientiousness, respectively. However, when the impact of depression was statistically removed from the relationship between personality and suicide ideation, Negative Ideation (suicide ideation) was no longer significantly correlated with any of the NEO-PI-R domains. Positive Ideation was only significantly correlated with Extraversion when the influence of depressed mood was controlled (r = 0.395, p = 0.000). The finding on the prevalence rate of suicide ideation among young adults is of relevance to the South African context as data in this regard is not well documented. Findings on the association between suicide ideation and Neuroticism, Extraversion and Conscientiousness, respectively, suggest that selected personality traits may increase individual vulnerability to suicidality and demonstrates the significance of understanding the role of personality in suicidal behaviour. In addition, the present study has added to this area of research by considering the influence of depression on the relationship between suicide ideation and personality. The non-significant association between personality traits and suicide ideation when the influence of depression was factored out suggests that personality interacts with depression in increasing vulnerability to suicidality. The present study is also distinguished by considering personality as possibly being a protective factor against engaging in suicidal behaviour. Findings suggest that selected personality traits may make independent contributions in protecting against suicide ideation. In order to further investigate the utility of personality traits as protective factors against suicidal behaviours or as markers of risk for suicidal behaviours and targets of intervention, future multivariate research is imperative.Item The application of the neo-pi-r in(2006-10-26T08:15:49Z) Teferi, TesfayThe five-factor model (FFM) of personality has established itself as the predominant model of personality trait structure (Digman, 1990). The NEO-PI-R has been used as one of the most useful FFM measures. Its reliability and validity has been approved through out the world and this study sought to explore the utility of the NEO-PI-R in the Eritrean context as well by translating the NEO-PI-R English version into Tigrigna language. Reliability and validity analyses were considered and an effort was also made to establish Eritrean norms. The descriptive statistics, norms and reliability co-efficients obtained in this study were not exactly similar to the USA sample, and this was not surprising having cultural difference, however, it was quite satisfactory as a pioneer study in Eritrean context. The scree plot showed that five factors could be extracted in this study. These findings lend support to an extent to the cross-cultural applicability of the instrument. In addition evidence of face, and content validity explorations indicated that this instrument was valid across cultures. Further evidence from inter-group comparisons across variables like age, gender, and level of education supports this argument. However, since the sample size and composition were problematic, there was question in the norming. As a whole the study suggested that NEO-PI-R could make a contribution in the Eritrean context as an initial personality assessment instrument.