Browsing by Author "Demas, Grant"
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- ItemConducting a community assessment : a practical community handbook([S.l. : s.n.], 2010-11) May, Basil; Lazarus, Sandy; Naidoo, A. V.; Demas, Grant; Williams, Lorenza; Sauls, Deidre; Filander, Fiona; Kamfer, Reagan; Klaasin, Annuske; Korasie, Searle; Martin, Jamie-LeeThis booklet is about sharing our process with other people so that they may be able to do the same in other communities. We have realised how valuable this kind of research is in the process of community development and we would like to help share our experiences of collaborative and community participative research. We hope that this handbook will serve as a guideline for any community leader, teacher or researcher who would like to undertake similar research projects. We realise that there are other ways of doing this, but you may find it helpful to see how we went about the community assessment process. In this booklet we will be providing background information that will help to create a context for doing this kind of research, and we will be outlining various steps in the process. To help bring life to this research process, we will give real lived experiences and examples from the Railton Community Assessment Project (CAP) team. Please consult the Railton Community Assessment Project Report for a comprehensive description of the research processes and findings referred to in this booklet. We hope this handbook is helpful to you and your community.
- ItemExploring 12 to 14 year old children’s perceptions of the causes and effects of physical violence between children : a Lynedoch study(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-03) Demas, Grant; Naidoo, Anthony V.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Violence occurs everywhere in the world, yet in poor communities like Lynedoch, located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, physical violence between children has become endemic. It is so severe that in 2004 a child from this community was murdered by peers. Furthermore, a trend has been observed throughout South Africa, of serious acts of physical violence between children. This has escalated to such an extent that in 2008 the country’s schools were declared the most unsafe and dangerous in the world. The present study was undertaken to obtain a firsthand understanding of the causes and effects of physical violence between children in Lynedoch. It was further motivated by the researcher’s location as a Lynedoch resident and school teacher. The information was obtained from 12 child participants who reside in Lynedoch. Qualitative research was employed and a depth focus group interview was used to obtain the information. The information which was obtained was then categorised into units, from which the themes were extrapolated. It was the research instrument of choice, because it is highly recommended for conducting research with children and for exploring sensitive topics. Once the information was obtained, the participants were debriefed. In order to formulate a holistic and systemic understanding of the research findings Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological systems theory was used as a framework. This enabled the researcher to discuss the findings within the constructs of the microsystem, the meso-system, the exo-system, the macro-system and the chrono-system. The discussion also included the issue of the influence of nature versus nurture, the emotional system, the cognitive-system and the behaviour-system. The findings of the present study revealed that the perceived causes of the physical violence between children in Lynedoch include a lack problem solving skills, difficulty dealing with certain emotions, low self-esteem, poor conflict resolution skills, domestic problems, difficulty communicating, a need for attention, and adults modeling physical violence to children. The perceived effects of physical violence between children in Lynedoch include painful emotions, desensitisation, displaced anger, vengefulness and suicidal ideation. In order to practically address the problems that were revealed through the formulation of the research findings, the present study recommends the implementation of systemic changes at multiple levels, including political, social, economic and personal changes.
- ItemRailton Community Assessment (CAP) : research report([S.l. : s.n.], 2010-11) Lazarus, Sandy; Naidoo, A. V.; Demas, Grant; Williams, Lorenza; Sauls, Deidre; Filander, Fiona; Kamfer, Reagan; Klaasin, Annuske; Korasie, Searle; Martin, Jamie-Lee; May, BasilThe main aim of the Community Assessment Project (CAP), which arose out of the above mentioned partnership, was to conduct a community assessment of Railton (within Swellendam) to assist the local community and the Railton Foundation to identify priority areas for community development. This was pursued through a mapping of community assets (including strengths and resources) and a priority needs assessment process. This research was conducted within a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Approach. CBPR is a collaborative approach to research that equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognises the unique strengths that each brings. CBPR begins with a research topic of importance to the community with the aim of combining knowledge and action for social change to improve the community. The first main section of this Report discusses the CBPR approach, and how ethical issues relating to conducting community research were addressed in the CAP research. This is followed by a detailed outlined of the 10 phases of the research design. The research training process is then discussed in some detail. The research participants are identified, and then the various data collection and analysis methods are discussed in some detail. The process of ‘pulling all the data together’ (called triangulation) is then explained. The process of sharing the research findings and recommendations with the community is then discussed. This chapter ends with a focus on both the strengths and limitations of the CAP research.
- ItemDie uitvoer van 'n gemeenskapsassessering : 'n praktiese gemeenskapshandleiding([S.l. : s.n.], 2010-11) May, Basil; Lazarus, Sandy; Naidoo, A. V.; Demas, Grant; Williams, Lorenza; Sauls, Deidre; Filander, Fiona; Kamfer, Reagan; Klaasin, Annuske; Korasie, Searle; Martin, Jamie-LeeDie doel van hierdie handleiding is om die navorsingsproses met ander mense te deel sodat hul op hul beurt dieselfde proses in ander gemeenskappe kan gebruik. Hierdie tipe navorsing is waardevol in die proses van gemeenskapsontwikkeling, en om die rede wil ons graag die ervaring van gemeenskap-deelnemende navorsing met ander deel. Ons hoop dat hierdie handleiding as ‘n riglyn sal dien vir enige gemeenskapsleier, opvoeder of navorser wat soortgelyke projekte wil loots. Alhoewel daar ander maniere is om hierdie tipe navorsing te doen, mag u dalk baat by die manier waarop ons die gemeenskapsassesserings-proses benader het. Ons sal in hierdie handleiding agtergrondinligting verskaf wat as konteks sal dien vir die uitvoer van dié tipe navorsing. Die onderskeie stappe van hierdie proses sal ook belig word. Ons gebruik werklike voorbeelde van die Railton Gemeenskapsassesserings-projek (GAP) om die egtheid van die navorsingsproses weer te gee. Raadpleeg asseblief ook die “Railton Community Assessment Project Research Report” vir addisionele inligting oor hierdie navorsingsaktiwiteite en bevindings. Ons hoop dat beide u en u gemeenskap hierdie handleiding tot groot nut sal vind.