Student Number : 9809910J - MA research report - School of Human and Community Development - Faculty of Humanities / This study explores the perceptions of women suffering from vaginismus regarding their condition, themselves and their significant relationships. The subjective world of women suffering from vaginismus was therefore focused upon, within the context of a qualitative paradigm. Four volunteers who were diagnosed with the condition by a sexologist at the DISA health clinic, and were at the time seeking treatment for the condition, participated in the research. The research was conducted in the form of a semi-structured interview. Various psychological, emotional and social themes were explored. The participants’ responses were recorded and then analysed utilising content analysis. Within the analysis, a lack of constancy was noted amongst the participants. Differences with regard to etiological themes, personality profiles, emotions as well as relationships with intimate partners and parents were found. This is coherent with findings in the literature, which are also inconsistent. However, it should be noted that that whilst few aspects were found to be universal, most shared some commonality. Thus, various trends were established. The experience of vaginismus appears to be stressful, impacting on one’s emotions, selfesteem and intimate relationships. Trends were identified with regard to choice of partner. However, different relationship dynamics were found suggesting that couples react differently to the experience of vaginismus. All of the participants gave vague descriptions of their parental figures and relationships. Thus, it is difficult to make assertions regarding these relationships. Patterns of interaction and behaviour were experienced during the interviews. Avoidance of emotion was prevalent. The tendency to idealise relationships was found with all of the participants. The participants also appeared to make contradictory statements throughout the interviews.

This study investigates the representation of gender in technology-related video advertisements. This thesis quantitatively and qualitatively examined 54 of the most recent commercials by the top nine Fortune 500 technology companies. A total of 407 characters were coded and quantitatively analyzed while the videos themselves were qualitatively assessed with particular attention given to the videos' themes and the interactions between the characters and the technology products and services. Results of the analyses showed that there were more male, Caucasian characters than any other character type based on gender and race/ethnicity. Females were mainly characterized according to traditional stereotypes, such as being linked to the home and expressing emotions. On the other hand, males were most often presented outdoors and conveyed confidence. Overall, the advertisements targeted upper class, Caucasian males while technology itself was associated with power, speed, and progress. These findings have important implications for understanding the persistence of gender inequality in the field of technology and in existing cultural beliefs surrounding gender and technology.

This study identified what Twitter followers were discussing in reference to the top five megachurches in size. The methods utilized within this study involved an examination of all tweets hashtagging the top five megachurches over a sixteen day timeframe. The first research question was answered by categorizing tweets into predetermined content categories. This study also addressed the second research question by determining if Twitter implementation was beneficial in executing the missions of the top five megachurches. This question was answered by analyzing tweets using a five point Likert scale measuring how reflective each tweet was to the mission statement of each of the Top five megachurches. Ultimately, this study revealed that hashtagged tweets did reflect topics that are beneficial to each individual church's growth, however, tweets hashtagging the top three megachurches did not reflect the mission statements of each church. Therefore, this study concluded that Twitter implementation is beneficial to church growth because followers discuss topics relevant to the success of the church, however, Twitter may not be the most suitable social media platform for megachurches in their attempts to execute their mission statements.

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The focus of this study is change in environmental content in Mexican primary school textbooks before and after the decentralization of public education in 1993. The literature review in the opening chapter gives the background information on environmental education, internationally and in Mexico. The authors mention and discuss the major groups involved in the development and initiation of programs and curriculum such as the UNESCO, Man and the Biosphere (MAB), and the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). The gradual Mexican ownership of the environmental cause and the promotion of awareness in Mexico lead to the main part of the study. This study employs both manifest and latent content analysis to find trends and themes in the textbooks. The primary focus of the manifest content analysis is individual words while the latent content analysis stresses excerpts and images from the textbooks. The use of an Excel database and PivotTables generated by Excel to correlate data indicates areas to examine for differences in content between the textbooks. In addition, the use of the two forms of analysis provides validation and significance when the data agree. The final portion of the study offers some general conclusions for the analysis and a summary of how the environmental content has increased in the primary school textbooks over the period studied. There are also suggestions for future research on the content of textbooks, surveys of environmental knowledge and attitudes, and alternatives to the formal education implied by the use of textbooks in the classroom. / Master of Arts

The goal of this study was to use a nonlinear approach to create a program to teach positive and negative reinforcement and punishment. A specific interest was to determine whether the program and its testing allowed for specific recommendations for future iterations of the program. The tests and program developed for this study were completed by 18 participants. Pre-test and post-test data showed that participants learned the most about positive contingencies, nonexample items, and ambiguous contingencies. Participants learned the least about negative contingencies. The data also revealed where additions to the instructional program were needed to produce better outcomes in future versions of the program.

In this study we have examined how Swedish tabloid newspapers portray supporters in regard to the deadly assault at the Allsvenskan premiere in Helsingborg between Helsingborgs IF and Djurgårdens IF in 2014. We have analyzed published articles in the two biggest tabloid newspapers in Sweden – Aftonbladet and Expressen. Our main findings show that journalists tend to generalize and stigmatize all supporters when writing about hooligans. There is also confusion regarding different groups within the supporter community.

The Western beauty standard revolves around three main attributes: thinness, youth, and whiteness. Combined, this ideal corresponds with privilege. Past studies have explored how racism and ageism are embedded in the beauty standard, but little work has explored how classism is included in the Western beauty standard. Utilizing the classical theoretical work of Bourdieu and Simmel, I explore the ways in which the Western beauty standard is dependent upon privilege and cultural capital. Using the methodology of a content analysis, the current study examines four women’s fashion and beauty magazines. I find that the both the language and the imagery used in the magazines allows for classism to be explicitly and implicitly displayed. I also explore the intersectionality of classism, racism, and ageism to develop a clearer understanding of how the three types of privilege are sustained within the beauty standard.