4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Investigating Non-Medical Ethics Committee Monitoring Approaches and its Effectiveness
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Schoeman, Shaun; Blaser-Mapitsa, Caitlin
    Ethics committee monitoring aims to ensure that research participants are protected throughout the research process and to ensure that research is conducted ethically. This study investigates monitoring approaches used by non-medical ethics committees within South Africa in a climate of limited resources and the relationship with the governing guidelines. The study further investigates the current monitoring approaches that are used and how effective these are in relation to participant protection. The study found that the current monitoring approaches used by non-medical ethics committees are passive as opposed to active. Non-medical ethics committees face challenges such as limited resources, funding, training, and ineffective guidelines that hinder their ability to monitor more effectively. The governing monitoring guidelines for registered ethics committees are premised on medical ethics, which is not fit the purpose of non-medical ethics committee monitoring. The study proposes adjustments to these governing guidelines, taking limited resources and non-medical nuances into consideration. The study further suggests that passive monitoring be redefined to include more effective methods than just annual progress reporting. These methods include participant meetings or citizen monitoring to ensure that participants are protected, and that research is conducted ethically.
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    Examining Knowledge Management Practices of Monitoring and Evaluation Professionals in the Public Secto
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Moleleki , Limpho; Pophiwa, Nedson
    The intersection of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Knowledge Management (KM) has garnered significant attention in recent years, yet the nuanced understanding of how KM complements M&E, particularly within the public sector, remains limited. The study aims to investigate how public sector M&E professionals understand and employ KM practices, identifies challenges and benefits associated with KM in M&E, and assess the implementation of M&E policies and legislation, particularly concerning KM integration. Utilising a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews with M&E professionals complemented by documentary analysis of relevant literature and policies were conducted. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data. Findings revealed there is some level of awareness and implementation of KM practices but a need for further development and integration of KM into M&E practices is needed. Overcoming organisational barriers and promoting a collaborative culture are essential for effective KM integration in M&E within the public sector, for improving decision- making and performance. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between KM and M&E in the public sector context revealing the need for targeted interventions and policy reforms to enhance KM integration and utilisation in M&E practices for improved use.
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    Investigating the Emotional Dimension of Subject Advisers’ Work with Teachers
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-08) Nwachukwu, Chioma; Steinberg, Carola
    This doctoral thesis investigates the emotional dimension of subject advisers’ work with teachers. The emotional aspect of subject advisers’ work is relatively under-researched. So, this study aims to find out how subject advisers in two differently performing Gauteng districts think and feel about their work with teachers. A conceptual framework was developed using Nussbaum’s (2003) understanding that emotions are always directed at an “object”, Turner’s (2014) understandings that emotions are a valued resource and are unequally distributed, and Frijda’s (1986) understanding that emotions are relevance signalling mechanisms. The conceptual framework also draws on Hochschild (1979; 1983), Zembylas (2002; 2006) and Steinberg (2008; 2014) to operationalize the concepts of emotional rules and emotional labour. The conceptual framework comprises of three concepts: emotions, emotional rules and emotional labour, utilized as a conceptual and analytical lens for analysing subject advisers’ work. The conceptual framework opens opportunities for further research into subject advisers’ emotions. Using a basic interpretive qualitative approach, the study focuses on nine subject advisers’ experiences of their work with teachers. Individual interviews and document reviews provided most of the data for this study. Key findings that arise from this study are that the subject advisers are frustrated at the inability to mediate their monitoring and support roles, which generates tensions that complicate the interaction between subject advisers and teachers. Additionally, the disempowering emotions of subject advisers is caused by lack of influence. Even so, the subject adviser-teacher relationship is complicated by competing power dynamics. However, subject advisers are committed to their jobs despite the challenges they encounter. Their emotional labour shows that subject advisers struggle to escape the negative impressions teachers have about them, while aiming to better support teachers. Their emotional rules show how they strive to fulfil their personal moral mandate of improving the education system. The key insight gained is that subject advisers’ relationship with teachers can be improved, if both teachers and subject advisers commit themselves to an open trusting relationship through proper teacher support. Real cooperation between teachers and subject advisers is possible if the work subject advisers do with teachers is premised on knowledge sharing, rather than on monitoring for compliance.
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    Effectiveness of Xenowatch’s monitoring of xenophobic violence in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-03) Charuma, Tinevimbo; Pophiwa, Nedson
    With increasing occurrence of xenophobic violence incidents in South Africa it becomes imperative to come up with solutions that are more effective. Key to reducing and preventing the incidents is monitoring of xenophobic violence for better evidence-informed anti-xenophobic policy interventions. In South Africa at present there is no state institution that focuses on tracking and tracing the patterns and trends of xenophobic violence attacks which means that decisions to act or ignore are not based on any factual information. A growing point of literature suggests that societal issues do not have optimal solutions, hence they need to be data driven to effectively deal with problem communities are facing. However, in Africa and in South Africa data driven and evidence- based decision making is limited in both public and private sectors. This study aimed at exploring how monitoring of xenophobic violence is used for policy making and advocacy work. A case study approach was used which focused on the monitoring of xenophobic violence by Xenowatch an independent institution. Within the case study key informant interviews were conducted with ten participants which comprised of three from Xenowatch staff and the remaining from Xenowatch partner organizations who are also users of the data. All the participants were purposively selected due to their experience and expertise with migration issues which are greatly connected to xenophobic violence and also working for and working with Xenowatch. There is limited evidence of use of the Xenowatch monitoring data by government or state institutions. The data showed its strength in advocacy as the findings revealed several uses by civil society organizations which include lobbying, influencing policy change, used in court cases among others. The study also showed the challenges in both gathering and using monitoring data such as underreporting, definition of xenophobic violence for the former, and capacity (knowledge and resources which affects both civil society and government) for the latter. From the interviews different suggestions were given by both respondents from Xenowatch staff and their stakeholders on how to improve the use of monitoring results for advocacy and policy making
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    An investigation of stakeholder influence on participants’ informed consent in the monitoring and evaluation process
    (2022) Kapay, Sara
    Monitoring and Evaluations (hereafter referred to as evaluations) aid in decision making, come in many forms and have various functions depending on their objectives. The nature of evaluations is such that they are reliant on participation from various individuals, communities, and organizations. Informed consent is the process by which participants are made aware of the potential risks, benefits, and objectives of a study and thereafter formally or informally indicate their consent to take part in the proposed research. Informed consent is required as it contributes to trust amongst stakeholders in evaluations. However, while issues regarding informed consent (both in theory and practice) have a well-documented history, especially in medical journals that centre on developed nations; further insights still need to be garnered. As such, there is a need to understand the informed consent process and its suitability within low-income nations in research and evaluations. Consequently, this research report aims to provide an understanding of stakeholder influence on informed consent on participants in evaluations and how power and pressure mechanisms from stakeholders affect informed consent. The interviews allowed us to better understand the role of stakeholders and their influence in informed consent through the perspectives and lived realities of evaluators, industry experts, researchers, and academics as well as those currently working in organisations that have been evaluated. It is evident from the interview findings that the power dominance, pressure, and influences that occur in Evaluation can be both implied and explicit. There is no consensus on what constitutes true informed consent or what exactly and to what extent should participants be informed within evaluations. Rather the focus is more on the protection and privacy of information and data of the evaluations than participants' consent. The observed and dominant ways stakeholders influence participant informed consent is through information. This study contributes to the existing literature on the relationship between evaluators, participants, and decision-makers as well as the power dynamics experienced practically within evaluations. The researcher proposes that a more deliberate approach needs to be taken during the conception phase of evaluations. Finally, further research looking at participation in Evaluation from the lenses of participants is required. In addition, a deeper look into ethics within evaluations as service providers to their stakeholders.