Professor Roelf van Niekerk

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Associate Professor in Organisational Psychology 

Masters Research and PhD Co-ordinator

BA [Theol], BA Hons,  MA [Indus Psych] (Stell)

M Ed [GETP] (RU)

MA [Clin Psych], PhD (UPE)

e-mail: roelf.vanniekerk@ru.ac.za

phone: +27-46-6037381

Professional Registration (HPCSA)

• Clinical Psychologist
• Industrial Psychologist

Teaching Areas

• Organisational psychology
• Assessment
• Integrative psychotherapy
• Personality psychology
• Ethics / Professional psychology

Research Interests

• Psychobiographical research

Publications

Fouche, J.P. & Van Niekerk, R. (1998).  The wellness of a politician: The value of wellness theory and psychobiography in uncovering well-being – The case of General Smuts.  In L. Schlebusch (Ed.), South Africa beyond transition: Psychological well-being (pp. 107-110), Medical School, University of Natal, Durban.

Fouche, J.P. & Van Niekerk, R (2010).  Academic psychobiography in South Africa: Past, present, and future.  South African Journal of Psychology, 40(4),  pp. 495-507. 

Immelman, A.P.J. & Van Niekerk, R.  (1996).  South Africa’s transition to majority rule: Implications for Higher Education.  St John’s Symposium 1996, Collegeville, Minnesota (pp. 61-73).

Van Niekerk, R. (1992).  Theories of counselling (Chapter 3).  In J. Uys (Ed.).  Psychological counselling in the South African context.  Cape Town: Maskew Miler Longman.

Van Niekerk, R. (1992).  “Stress and the manager”.  Direction: UPE Construction Management Journal, pp.13-15.

Van Niekerk, R. (1993).  Opleiding van nagraadse sielkundestudente (II): Supervisie (Training of post-graduate psychology students (II): Supervision).  Proceedings of the 11^th Annual Congress of the Psychological Association of South Africa  (pp. 260-292).

Van Niekerk, R. & Vorster, J-A. (2010). Economic responsiveness in organisational psychology curricula. In S.M.G. Mahlomaholo, M.N. Nkoane, & D. Francis (Eds.). Praxis toward sustainable and empowering learning environments. Stellenbosch: Sunmedia Publishers.

Selected Conference Papers

Fouché, J.P., Fullard, J.P.P., Van Niekerk, R., & Foxcroft, C. (2000).  Holistic wellness of an international statesman: A psychobiographical study of General J.C. Smuts.  Seventh International Conference of Psychology, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Fouché, J.P., Van Niekerk, R., Fullard, J.P.P. & Jurgensen-Fouche, S.  (1999).  Psychobiography: The alliance between psychology and biography in the uncovering of lives of African personalities.  Fifth Annual conference of the Psychological Society of South Africa, Durban.

Fouché, J.P. & Van Niekerk, R. (2005).  Psychobiography: Methodological criticisms, constraints and strategic considerations.  International Society for Theoretical Psychology Conference, Cape Town, 20-24 June.

Fouché, J.P. & Van Niekerk, R. (2005).  Psychobiography: An interdisciplinary approach between psychology and biography in the narrative reconstruction of personal lives.  International Society for Theoretical Psychology Conference, Cape Town, 20-24 June.

Fouché, J.P. & Van Niekerk, R. (2009). The emergence of South African academic psychobiography: The significance of institutionalised life history studies for post-graduate research.  15^th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of South Africa. 11-14 August, Cape Town.

Fouché, J.P. & Van Niekerk, R. (2010).  Reconstructing the lives of exemplary personalities: The value of psychobiographical studies for post-graduate research, supervision, and theory development.  INORMS Conference. 13-15 April, Cape Town.

Hicks, C., Van Niekerk, R., & Fullard, J.P.P. (1996).  Sources of psychological strength in a disadvantaged township community in Port Elizabeth. Second annual conference of the  Psychological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4-7 September.

Rossouw, L., Van Niekerk, R., & Shillington, S.  (1996).  Training of post-graduate psychology students (III): The role of biographical details and personality variables during selection procedures.  Second annual conference of the  Psychological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4-7 September.

Van Niekerk, R. (1988).  Basic military training: A psycho-social analysis. Annual conference of the Psychological Association of South Africa, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 26-28 September.

Van Niekerk,R. (1989).  The role and function of humour in individual psychotherapy.  Annual conference of the Psychological Association of South Africa, Durban, South Africa, 18-20 September.

Van Niekerk, R. Resistance in individual psychotherapy.  Annual conference of the Psychological Association of South Africa, Durban, South Africa, 18-20 September.

Van Niekerk, R. (1991).  Preparing patients for psychological procedures. Annual conference of the Psychological Association of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, 7-9 October.

Van Niekerk, R. (1992).  Training of post-graduate psychology students (I): Selection. Annual conference of the Psychological Association of South Africa, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 30 September-2 October.

Van Niekerk, R. (1993).  Training of post-graduate psychology students (II): Supervision. Annual conference of the Psychological Association of South Africa, Durban, South Africa, 22-24 September.

Van Niekerk, R. & Luiz, D.M. (1996).  The effects of systematic client orientation on dropout rate. Second annual conference of the  Psychological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4-7 September.

Van Niekerk, R. & Fouche, J.P.  (1997).  Puzzles to portraits: Psychobiographical analyses of historical personalities. Third annual conference of the  Psychological Society of South Africa, Durban, South Africa, 10-12 September.

Van Niekerk, R. (1997).  The professional development of psychologists. Third annual conference of the  Psychological Society of South Africa, Durban, South Africa, 10-12 September.

Van Niekerk, R. & Fouche, P. (2006).  Psychobiographical research in South Africa: 1994-2005.  South African Conference on Positive Psychology, Potchefstroom, 5-7 April.

Van Niekerk, R., & Fouché, J.P. (2010). The career development of entrepreneurs: [1] Dr Anton Rupert (1916-2006). SIOPSA Conference, 29-30 July, Johannesburg.

Van Niekerk, R., Vorster, J., & Fouché, J.P. (2010). Labour market requirements for IOP graduates [1]: Aligning curricula with job categories that are in demand.  SIOPSA Conference, 29-30 July, Johannesburg.

Van Niekerk, R., Vorster, J., & Fouché, J.P. (2010). Labour market requirements for IOP graduates [2]: Aligning curricula with key performance areas that are in demand.  SIOPSA Conference, 29-30 July, Johannesburg.

Vos, H. & Van Niekerk, R. (2006).  The career development of Prof Chris Barnard: A psychobiographical study.  South African Conference on Positive Psychology, Potchefstroom, 5-7 April.