2016: Departmental Research Topics and Projects

2016: Departmental Research Topics and Projects

Topic/Project

1. Psychometrics:

? The relationship between the Dark Triad traits (i.e.,

psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism)

and empathy as well as impulsivity.

? Psychometric properties of the Dirty Dozen (12item measure of the Dark Triad traits) in South

Africa.

? Item-wording/method-effect and dimensionality of

the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale with South

African students or abused children (using EFA,

CFA and MCFA) (This forms part of an on-going

research project and data has already been

collected).

? The effects of rumination and negative cognitive

styles on depression: A mediation analysis

(evaluation of the Cognitive vulnerability-stress

theories of depression)/ Cognitive Vulnerabilities

and Depression in Young Adults.

? Validation of the BDI-II with clinical samples.

? Factorial validity and measurement invariance of

the Beck hopelessness scale (This forms part of

an on-going research project and data have

already been collected).

---------------------------------? Developing tests by means of Rasch analysis

? Goal orientation and goal achievement tests

? Classical versus Item response theory

?

---------------------------------Rorschach Inkblot Method

2. Realism and related epistemological and

ontological positions in psychology

3. Cognitive psychology:

Models of cognition utilising direct realism as departure

versus representationalism

4. Scholarship of teaching and learning:

? Teaching research methodology (specifically

systematic reviews of the literature)

? Near-peer mentoring (data has already been

collected and can be used for a dissertation/thesis)

5. Systematic reviews - any topic that uses this

methodology

6. Environmental psychology:

? Recycling behaviour e.g. in enclosed residential

areas

? Collective futures and climate change (multi-national

project) (data has already been collected and can be

used for a dissertation/thesis)

? Environmental justice & sustainable lifestyles

(proposed grant project with University of Karlstad,

Sweden)

? Any topic about water in South Africa

7. Academic success in higher education:

Predictors of academic success among undergraduate

students in higher education

Methodology

Staff Member

Quantitative and Mixed

Methods

Dr Malose Makhubela

--------------------------? Analysis of data by means

of Structural Equation

Modeling (SEM)

? Mediator and moderator

analysis

--------------------------Mixed methods

---------------------Prof David Maree

To be determined

Prof David Maree

To be determined

Prof David Maree

Qualitative, quantitative, mixed

methods and systematic

reviews

Prof Claire Wagner

Systematic reviews

Prof Claire Wagner

Dr Amanda van der

Westhuizen

Any methodology

Prof Claire Wagner

Mixed methods

Ms Angela Thomas

---------------------Ms Daleen Macklin

8. Intersections of depression / anxiety, gender &

culture

? Empirical studies (experiences of depression /

anxiety in different culture / gender groups)

? Synthesis, text and secondary analysis (e.g.,

existing qualitative research findings; media

representations electronic or printed)

? Developmental focus (e.g., children, adolescence,

adulthood, post-retirement)

9. Media representations of mental illnesses.

? Text-analyses including newspapers, popular

magazines, blogs etc.

10. Assessment development:

Comparison of local protocols with standard norms

(currently working on autism screening and diagnostic

tools)

11. Alternative therapy:

Investigation into alternative therapy outcomes (with a

focus on art therapy and music therapy)

12. Trauma:

? Treatment of victims and/or perpetrators (in

collaboration with an international University)

? Social trauma and relational exchange

13. Investigation into presenting problems at the

Itsoseng clinic at the Mamelodi campus (no specific

problems identified �C open to research ideas)

14. Mental health landscape in public and private

sector

15. Groups

? Trans-cultural group experience

? Transformative change in the median group

? Exploring group space and mental space

16. The social unconscious

17. Psychophysiology

Students interested in collaborating with the

Department of Physiology and/or neuroscientists

18. Neuropsychology:

? Adult and geriatric neuropsychology

? Neurodegenerative disorders

? Neuropsychology of mental disorders

19. Sport psychology:

? Performance in Sport: This project focuses on

understanding and educating athletes & coaches

in sport performance development & work

performance development retrospectively.

? Transitions in Sport: This project focuses on

understanding & supporting learner-athletes &

student-athletes who undergo transitions in sport.

? Deviance in Sport: This project focuses on how

athletes who have been convicted of doping make

sense of their experience through media briefings

& interviews.

? Career psychology: The career psychology

project focuses on understanding and

supporting learner-athletes and student-athletes in

managing their dual careers.

? Counselling psychology: The counselling

psychology project focuses on understanding and

supporting learner-athletes and students athletes

with performance termination, performance

impairement and performance dysfunction.

20. Bullying and forgiveness

Qualitative synthesis studies,

Phenomenological studies

Ms Adri Prinsloo

Qualitative synthesis studies,

Discourse analysis, Thematic

Analysis

Mixed methods

Ms Adri Prinsloo

Mixed methods

Dr Linda Blokland

Mixed methods

Dr Linda Blokland

������������..

Mixed methods

Dr Assie Gildenhuys

Dr Linda Blokland

All methods

Dr Linda Blokland

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������������

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Mixed methods

To be determined

Dr Linda Blokland

Dr Assie Gildenhuys

Dr Assie Gildenhuys

Dr Nicoleen Coetzee

Prof Nafisa

Cassimjee

Prof Lourens Human

Qualitative

Qualitative

Qualitative

Qualitative

Qualitative

Qualitative

Dr Estie Janse van

Rensburg

21. Community mental health:

? Trauma interventions for children exposed to

various forms of violence

? Community mental health interventions

? Psychosocial implications and interventions for

people living with HIV

? Interventions for orphans and vulnerable children

and their families

-----------------------------------------? Mental health illiteracy among adults in a semiurban area

? Prevalence of depression among adolescents in

township schools

? Coping strategies used by parents of children with

autism

22. Substance abuse:

? Evaluation of the South African drug master plan

?

?

?

?

The role that family support plays in the recovery

of substance-dependent individuals

Prevalence of non-medical use of prescription

drugs in Higher education Institutes in South Africa

Exploration of experiences and perceptions of

heroin addicted individuals who participated in

Ibogaine treatment

-----------------------------------------Depression and alcohol use in a community

adolescent sample

23. Family therapy with a clinical population:

? Parent-child psychotherapy in the treatment of

childhood psychological problems

24. Attachment:

? Attachment and attachment related issues or

psychopathology in children and adults

----------------------------------? The role of insecure attachment on emotion

dysregulation in adolescence

25. Infant mental health

26. Clinical case study research:

Single in-depth case study psychotherapy research preferably within a psychodynamic framework

27. Counselling:

? Narrative career counselling

? Poststructural approaches to therapy

? Culture, family, gender issues

? Developing locally relevant counselling

approaches

28. Training of counselling psychologists

29. Metabolical Surgery:

An exploration of the psychological factors that

contribute to weight regain after weight loss surgery

30. Gratuitous violence:

Exploring the drives behind gratuitous violence

accompanying crimes with a theft motive in South

Africa

31. Orphans and vulnerable children:

HIV, family, marriage and couples enrichment with a

specific focus on pre-marital counselling

32. Psychoanalytics:

? Psychodynamic theory and Attachment theory as it

relates to psychotherapy

? Psychoanalytic psychotherapy with personality

disorders

Programme development,

programme evaluation

Action research

Action research, programme

evaluation

Mixed methods

Prof MarethaVisser

-----------------------Qualitative

-----------------------

Quantitative

Ms Anne Moleko

Qualitative

Evaluation research (mixed

methods)

Qualitative: (phenomenology)

Ms Anne Moleko

Quantitative

Qualitative: (phenomenology)

-----------------------Quantitative

----------------------Ms Nishola Rawatlal

Qualitative, quantitative and

mixed methods

Mr Ahmed Mohamed

Qualitative, quantitative and

mixed methods

Mr Ahmed Mohamed

---------------------

-------------------

Quantitative

Qualitative, quantitative and

mixed methods

Qualitative

Ms Nishola Rawatlal

Mr Ahmed Mohamed

Qualitative

Prof Terri Bakker

To be determined

Mixed Methods

Prof Terri Bakker

Ms Monique

Bezuidenhout

To be determined

Ms Monique

Bezuidenhout

Qualitative

Ms Nkateko NdalaMagoro

Mr Ahmed Mohamed

Ms Daleen Macklin

Qualitative

Mixed methods

33. ��Theraplay�� as therapeutic intervention with

children and families

34. Human trafficking, mixed migrancy issues

35. Complexity and systems theory:

Any research making use of complexity and systems

theories

36. Reconciliation and peace-building:

Psychological aspects of reconciliation and peacebuilding in post-conflict societies

37. Self-esteem, self-efficacy

Topics dealing with the improving or impacts on selfesteem or self-efficacy

38. Economic psychology

Specifically the psychological impact of microfinance and

microcredit

39. Affirmative action

? Any topic dealing people��s experience of AA

? Topics dealing with the psychological impacts of

AA

40. Psycho-legal work: Any topics in this area around

e.g.

? Criminal capacity evaluations in children- issues of

assessment

? Assessment of victims of rape

41. Criminal psychology

Any topic within this area

42. Social psychology

? Interpersonal dynamics

? Intimate relationships

Qualitative

Ms Daleen Macklin

Qualitative and Quantitative,

Mixed Methods

Qualitative, mixed methods

Dr Amanda van der

Westhuizen

Dr Amanda van der

Westhuizen

Qualitative, quantitative and

mixed methods

Mr Ahmed Mohamed

Qualitative, quantitative and

mixed methods

Mr Benny Motileng

Qualitative, quantitative and

mixed methods

Mr Benny Motileng

Qualitative, quantitative and

mixed methods

Mr Benny Motileng

Quantitative

Ms NisholaRawatlal

Quantitative

Ms NisholaRawatlal

Social constructionism,

Discourse analysis

Ms Neo Pule

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