Much research has shown that women are more empathic than men. Yet, women and men are equally forgiving. However, it is not clear whether empathy is more important to forgiveness for men or for women. The purpose of the present study was to examine gender differences in levels of empathy and forgiveness and the extent to which the association of empathy and forgiveness differed by gender. Participants were 127 community residents who completed self-report measures of empathy and forgiveness. The present results showed that women were more empathic than men, but no gender difference for forgiveness was apparent. However, the association between empathy and forgiveness did differ by gender. Empathy was associated with forgiveness in men—but not in women.

Based on Coopey's critical review of the terms 'Utopian sunshine' and 'Foucauldian gloom' with regard to the earning organization (Coopey, 1998), this article explores the learning organization from two opposing perspectives. While researchers agree that the learning organization concept is an important one for organization science, two seemingly irreconcilable research communities are arguing about whether the learning organization is a dream or a nightmare for its members, particularly with regard to three critical dimensions: control, ideology and potentially painful employee experiences. The purpose of this article is to review and critically examine both the optimistic view of the learning organization as positive ideal and the more critical view of the learning organization as negative ideology. Based on this examination, the article aims to synthesize a new middle-ground perspective on the learning organization, referred to as the 'fluorescent light' view, incorporating elements from both optimistic and critical views in hopes of generating a dialog between them that will provide new research questions on control, ideology and potential pain in learning organizations.

Background: The current fashion industry is characterised by its fast-moving nature. Its change over the past decades from two to numerous collections per year has contributed to a take-make-dispose society. This largely contributes to environmental and social sustainability issues as well as the use of non-renewable materials waste. Simultaneously, it is one of the largest employers worldwide. Due to the global dispersion of supply chains actors, sustainable fashion brands need to tackle country specific regulations and overall differences in conceptions of e.g. sustainability. Sustainable fashion brands find themselves in numerous conflicts such as profit and growth versus environmental and social sustainability, trendiness versus consciousness, or linear business models versus circular business models. Purpose: This thesis provides a systematic literature review of a selection among peer-reviewed articles on sustainable fashion brands. The main focus is on the paradox of sustainable fashion brands in academic research. This study aims at gaining a basis for research in the perspective of sustainable retail brands to explore manners in which they can deal with the paradox between being financially viable and acting sustainably. Method: To support the objective of this study, the articles selected for data analysis were collected by using a systematic literature review as research and analytical method. Within the thesis, a narrative analysis was applied to examine the chosen articles. Results: The results gathered through the systematic review show a significant influence on sustainable fashion brands from two major stakeholders: supplier and consumer. Especially the consumers are regarded as most influential since their demand determines whether sustainable fashion is being adopted more widely into the market. Currently consumers lack knowledge of environmental and social concerns related with fashion. Simultaneously, the suppliers lack understanding of such concerns due to cultural and economic differences. Therefore, retailers should educate both consumers and suppliers on relevant issues. This can further enhance transparency which in turn generates more trust between all parties. Moreover, innovative business models can help tackle consumption related sustainability issues in that they offer the extended use of clothing. Conclusion: Sustainable fashion brands have to handle several conflicts related to their market position and existence. In order to create sustainable fashion offerings, they require viable financial means. Economic growth as it is known today contradicts the sustainability of the environment and society. Sustainable fashion brands need to find a proper balance between the two as it is the only way to tackle this paradox. In addition, there is a significant gap in the research on economic sustainability in relation to sustainable fashion brands.

There are relatively few preschools in Sweden that have an animal profile. Previous research on the interaction between children and animals has mostly focused on how adults explain the relationship between children and animals. The purpose of this study is to explore how children express the way in which they experience preschools that focus on work with animals. I then take this data and compare it to earlier research. Vygotskij’s thoughts give the theoretical framework for the study. A sociocultural perspective lifts the notion that all learning occurs in social relationships. The conception of mediation through language and the zone of proximal development are two relevant characteristics of the study. I visited a preschool with an animal profile and used qualitative interviews and observations in order to gather data. The children express that they experience happiness when working with the animals. In their words, dogs are playmates and comforters. The children enjoy playing, riding and caring for the animals. Occasionally children express fear around the animals. Research shows that children receive unconditional love and learn the social rules of relationships with animals. Children learn to read the animal’s body language. This leads to a better understanding of relationships with people. Friendly petting of the animals along with the animal’s non-judgmental presence stimulates oxytocin production. This leads to contentment and relaxation. The interaction between children and animals promotes self-esteem, empathy, responsibility and gross-motor skills development. This study shows that in situations where fear is experienced, the outcome can lead to increased bravery and sense of responsibility. At all times during the interaction between children and animals learning is taking place. An interesting conclusion of this study is that it is possible to achieve all of the goals outlined in the Curriculum for the Preschool by working together with children and animals.

Background: Globalization has changed the market in ways of creating new opportunities as well as new challenges for organizations and has given rise to a global phenomenon called workforce diversity. The phenomenon appeared as a result from the constantly changing marketplace where people as part of a worldwide economy, live and work in foreign countries. Thus, as global markets emerge, and workforce demographics shift, workforce diversity inches closer to becoming a necessity instead of a banner that businesses wave to show their commitment to embracing differences and change.  Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to examine and to provide a better understanding of how diversity is managed through inclusive practices and policies, and how employees perceive these practices.  Method: The research is based on a qualitative case study. The primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The respondents of the interviews were both managers and employees in order to get the two different perspectives. Two managers and six employees were interviewed.  Findings: The empirical findings showed that managers’ perspective of inclusion practices differs much from how the employees perceive inclusion practices of a diverse workforce. The main findings were that the stated inclusion practices at The University are not perceived among the employees. One example was that some of the employees feel like they were excluded at The University. Moreover, some of the employees stated that people that are not ethical Swedes are not treated the same nor get the same opportunities. Another observable issue was that The University rarely speak English and all documented information is in Swedish, which mean that not all employees receive the information needed.

Gifted middle school students may not always be provided with a differentiated curriculum that ensures their academic progression in inclusive educational settings. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine teachers' perspectives on differentiation for gifted students in the general education classroom. The conceptual framework for the study was anchored by the theories of Gardner, who recognized that students learn in different ways, and Vygotsky, who determined that students learn best at their level of learning or zone of proximal development. The research questions focused on teachers' perspectives about teaching the gifted students in the general classroom environment and how they were implementing differentiation for their gifted students. Participants included 7 general education teachers from a single middle school who taught students with mixed abilities. Data collection consisted of interviews with each teacher and a single observation in each teacher's classroom. Inductive analysis aided in the coding process. Open and axial coding were used to create labels and concepts, color coding for organization of the data, member checking for accuracy, triangulation, and peer review for validity. The results of the study indicated that teachers were willing to teach mixed-ability students in 1 classroom, but most teachers believed that gifted students should be taught in special gifted classes. Although teachers believed that differentiation was important, they were not implementing differentiation in their classrooms for gifted students. Social change implications include a deeper understanding by teachers and administration of the necessity for challenging and differentiated instruction. Recommendations are made for improvements in accommodations, appropriate strategies, and differentiated curriculum for middle school gifted students.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two forms of perspective-taking training on interpersonal and ideological identities of 18- to 21-year-old college students. The primary predictions of the study were that social perspective-taking training would have its greater effect on interpersonal identity and that ideological perspective-taking training would have its greater effect on ideological identity. Ninety-six subjects were pretested for the study. Subject loss occurred due to attrition and the elimination of subjects who scored above set criterion for inclusion in the study. A total of 50 participants who were assigned to one of two treatment groups or to the control group completed the study. Both experimental and control subjects were engaged for two one-hour sessions per week for four weeks. Subjects completed posttesting the week following the last week of training. Nonparametric tests and repeated measures analysis of variance were computed for the pretest and posttest scores. Advances in ideological identity were observed for both the social and ideological perspectivetaking groups. Neither training was effective in promoting interpersonal identity. There was some evidence that formal operational skills also were advanced from social perspective-taking training. The validity and reliability of the measures used were discussed in conjunction with discussion of the findings. Implications for future research and clinical applications were presented.

The present study aimed to evaluate (a) the extent to which different impulsivity measures would be related to each other and to a risk taking measure, (b) the extent to which impulsivity, risk taking, time perception and time perspective are related to each other, and (c) the extent to which these processes differ in Latino and White American students. Experiment I was conducted at Utah State University. One hundred and fortythree participants were exposed to the delay discounting, probability discounting and temporal bisection procedures, and answered the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI). Results showed that (a) the AUC for delay discounting was related to the scores on the BIS-11 scale, (b) the AUCs for delay and probability discounting were positively and significantly correlated, (c) the mean of the temporal bisection procedure was correlated with the AUC of the delay discounting procedure, (d) the scores on the ZTPI were correlated with the impulsivity measures, and (e) the scores on the ZTPI subscales were also correlated with the risk taking measure. These results suggest that different impulsivity measures may be evaluating similar decision-making processes, that impulsivity and risk taking may be different decision- making processes, and that time perception and time perspective are related to impulsivity and risk taking. Experiment II was conducted at Washington University in St. Louis, with 18 Latinos and 16 White Americans. Results show that while Latinos were more impulsive in the delay discounting procedure, their scores did not differ from the White Americans on the BIS-11. Interestingly, Latinos and White Americans did not differ on time perception, but they did differ on time perspective: Latinos scored higher on fatalism compared to White Americans.

This study analyzed the economics of irrigation scheduling for alfalfa hay in the Cache Valley, Utah area. Yield, evapotranspiration (ET) and irrigation drainage loss, along with the costs and returns per acre attributable to irrigation scheduling, were simulated through the use of a computerized plant growth model. The model created yearly "irrigation schedules" for alfalfa hay based on actual climatic, soil and plant characteristic data from the Utah State University Greenville Experiment Station. The model calculated the irrigation schedules based on a soil-water balance equation which never allowed the available soil water to go below the crop stress point. The production variables (yield, ET, drainage, water application efficiency) achieved with the model-calculated schedules were contrasted against the same variables under conventional practices of zero, five and eight irrigations per season. Under five and eight irrigations, the amount of water applied at each irrigation was varied from one to eight inches, which simulated irrigations ranging from 3.4 to 26.6 hours per set. The yearly irrigation schedules created by the soil-water balance equation maximized crop evapotranspiration and yield. Irrigation drainage was negated while water application efficiencies of 100% were achieved by applying only enough water at each irrigation to refill the soil profile. Using model-estimated yield, net profit for each irrigation option (scheduling, zero, five and eight irrigations) was calculated using nine different irrigation cost scenarios. Based on the 16 years of simulation, irrigation scheduling averaged a lower net profit when compared against five irrigations at three and four inches per irrigation. Compared against eight irrigations at two and three inches per irrigation, net profit for the model-calculated schedules averaged higher or equal. Irrigation scheduling is an excellent method of determining optimal irrigation frequency and amount, and may have a significant impact on net income if an irrigator is substantially over or under irrigating. However, once an optimal pattern of irrigations is established using a scheduling technique it may be more profitable for an irrigator to discontinue incurring the cost of irrigation scheduling and simply use the pattern each successive season, modifying it slightly for an annual variations in climate.

The use of exchange theory as it applies to human relations has escalated dramatically in the past 20 years. The present study applies exchange theory as the basis of mate selection in contemporary society. Whereas an actual barter system was used in the past and families played a major role in choosing prospective mates, participants in the mate selection process are not virtually on their own and must rely upon their own bargaining skills to present their assets on the marriage market. A number of characteristics are thought to enhance or detract from a person's "worth" on the marriage market. Over 900 college students from nine universities across the united states were surveyed in order to ascertain what they considered valuable in a potential mate, and important variables in the mate selection process were determined. Comparisons were made among gender, race, marital status, family size and configuration, socioeconomic status, religious orientation, and geographical region of the United States. The results indicate that important differences exist among the various groups concerning what characteristics enhance or detract from an individual's worth on the marriage market in contemporary America. Finally, it was determined that marital worth of individuals can theoretically be measured.