African Journals Online
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology
/Tydskrif vir Bedryfsielkunde

Volume 27, Issue 3 2001
Abstracts

Acceptance of co-operative education practice by the academic staff at Technikon Southern Africa
Groenewald, T.Strumpfer, D.Lessing, B. 1-6

Abstract: Technikons advocate the practice of co-operative education, which is an educational strategy that integrates learning through productive work with the theoretical curriculum. However, only 35% of the Technikon SA programmes have a compulsory experiential learning component. Grounded theory research was undertaken to determine some of the basic assumptions of Technikon SA's academic staff in this regard. Rather than starting out with a specific research problem, grounded theory explores an area of interest and allows what is relevant to emerge. Semi-structured interviews with four open-ended questions, were conducted with a stratified-random sample of 25 teaching staff at Technikon SA. It was found that, although there is some willing compliance and belief in co-operative education, it is not indicative of the organisational culture of Technikon SA.

Cross-cultural equivalence of the organisational culture survey in Australia
Erwee, R.Lynch, B.Millett, B.Smith, D.Roodt, G. 7-12

Abstract: The aim of this study is to assess whether the cross-cultural equivalence of the Organisational Culture Survey (OCS) persist in an Australian context. The nature of the instrument is presented which includes a clear statement of its South African origin and its' place within a logical positivist paradigm. The sample consisted of 326 respondents from a population of managers of the Australian Institute of Management. This study confirms the instrument's validity and internal consistency within an Australian context, but that further research is required into the functional and conceptual equivalence of the survey items and dimensions underpinning the items to conclusively establish its utility. Finally, aspects of the `organisational culture' construct underlying the survey need revision given recent trends in related systems, complexity and chaos theories.

The role of sense of coherence in group relations training
Cilliers, F. 13-18

Abstract: This research measured the role that sense of coherence (SOC) plays on an individual and group level during group relations training, presented to fifty-eight managers, using Antonovsky's scale and an semi-structured interview. The individual measuring high on SOC showed more understanding of group dynamics, made more use of own existing resources to cope with anxiety and found the experience challenging and meaningful, than the low measuring individual. On the group level, the split between high and low led to projective identification: the high SOC individuals contain competence and the low, incompetence. Recommendations for future group relations training are formulated.

'n Vergelykende studie na die vlak en oorsake van werkstres by 'n groep geletterde en ongeletterde swart werknemers
Van Zyl, E.Bester, C. 19-23

Abstract: A comparable study into work stress amongst a group of literate and illiterate black employees. Despite the fact that the South African black employee experience a broad spectrum of stressors, there is limited research which describes their actual levels and typical causes of stress. It was decided then to identify and to compare South African literate and illiterate black employees' level and causes of stress. This information could help psychologists/employers to maintain a distinctive approach in communicating and handling problems with the distinguish groups. In order to identify black employees' level and causes of stress the Experience of Work and Life Circumstances questionnaire was applied on an occasional sample of 60 persons. Results showed that illiterate black employees' levels of stress were significantly higher than the literate group. Further more, the illiterate group scored significantly higher scores than the literate group on the following causes of stress: causes outside the work situation, task characteristics, physical working conditions and job equipment, social matters as well as remuneration and fringe benefits. In the light of the abovementioned results a few recommendations were made.

Die evaluering van 'n ontwikkelingsprogram gerig op werknemers se lokus van beheer
Els, D.A.Linde, L.H. 24-29

Abstract: Human resource development should provide for the development of an internal locus of control and autonomous behaviour, as well as for the overcoming of external control. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of a development programme aimed at the locus of control of employees in a financial institution. A two-group design with a pre-, post- and post-post-measurement was used to evaluate the programme. Twenty-eight employees were allocated randomly to either an experimental or a control group. The development programme contributed to a significant increase in the internal locus of control and autonomous behaviour of the experimental group (compared with the control group) immediately following the development programme and three months after the completion thereof.

Emotional intelligence as a determinant of leadership potential
Stuart, A.D.Paquet, A. 30-34

Abstract: Emotional intelligence scores of employees of a financial institution who displayed leadership potential (n = 31) were compared with scores of a group who displayed little leadership potential. Leadership was rated by as certaining the presence of transformational behaviour. All rated employees completed an emotional intelligence scale. Results indicated that the factors of optimism and self-actualisation were significantly higher for the leader group. The non-leader group indicated higher scores on the positive impression scale, indicating possible positive skewing of results for that group. Generally, the research data indicates a link between the fundamental postulates of transformational leadership theory and emotional intelligence.

Personality and cognitive ability as predictors of the job performance of insurance sales people
Lagrange, L.Roodt, G. 35-43

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether personality and a measure of cognitive ability ('verbal reasoning ability') would significantly predict the job performance ('managerial ratings') of sales people in a large South African insurance company. The Customer Contact Styles Questionnaire (CCSQ 5.2) and the Verbal Evaluation Test (VCC 3) were administered to 170 broker consultants, and their managers rated their job performance on the Customer Contact Competency Inventory (CCCI). By making use of multiple regression analysis it was found that certain personality dimensions significantly predict job performance, and that 'verbal reasoning ability' did not have any significant predictive power. These findings, the implications thereof and suggestions for possible further research are discussed.

Persoonlikheidseienskappe as voorspellers van die loopbaansukses van provinsiale verkeersbeamptes
Geldenhuys, A.Visser, D.Crafford, A. 44-50

Abstract: The effective selection of competent provincial traffic officers has become an urgent necessity for provincial governments. Due to a lack of relevant research on which selection decisions can be based, a study was conducted on a total of 206 respondents from the Free State Provincial Government to determine whether differences exist between the personality profiles of successful and relatively unsuccessful provincial traffic officers. No statistically significant differences were found between the successful and unsuccessful groups on the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire. Various shortcomings of the study are discussed and recommendations for research suggested.

The construction and evaluation of a normative learning style preference questionnaire
Viljoen, M.J.Schepers, J.M.Van Zyl, K. 51-60

Abstract: Various authors have indicated the need for and value of identifying the learning style preferences of individual learners. Similar needs have been voiced in the South African context. The focal point of this study was the development of a normative instrument for predicting the preferred learning styles of individuals. Secondary aims were to determine whether there are differences between groups formed on the basis of gender, academic qualifications and functional disciplines as far as their learning style preferences are concerned. Based on a review of the literature and an existing questionnaire, namely the Learning Style Inventory (LSI 85), the Learning Style Preference Questionnaire (LSPQ) consisting of 136 items was developed and administered to respondents (N= 542) in a large organisation. The LSPQ was subjected to a principal factor analysis and six factors were obtained. The six factors were rotated to simple structure by means of the Direct Oblimin procedure. The matrix of intercorrelations of the six factors was subjected to a second-order factor analysis and yielded a single factor. Six scales were constructed corresponding to the six factors. These scales were subjected to item analysis and yielded reliability coefficients that ranged from 0,809 to 0,939 according to Cronbach's coefficient alpha. The implications of the findings are discussed.

The construction of a normative insrument for the measurement of moral reasoning
White, J.C.Crafford, A.Schepers, J.M. 61-67

Abstract: The main aim of this study was to construct a normative instrument for the measurement of different levels of moral reasoning. The sample comprised 426 undergraduate students in Industrial Psychology and Personnel Management from two Afrikaans speaking universities. A questionnaire was developed to measure different levels of moral reasoning on a normative scale. A factor analysis on 90 items yielded two factors. These factors were interpreted as principled moral reasoning and prescriptive moral reasoning. The two scales were subjected to an item analysis and yielded reliability coefficients of 0,936 and 0,937. The implications of these findings are discussed.