This diploma thesis discusses the image of menstruation in the mass media and in user generated content. Menstruation is a biological process that is essential for reproduction. It not only plays a specific role from the biological point of view, but also from the cultural aspect. Menstruation has remained a taboo and been stigmatised for many years. Today this topic is no longer completely taboo, but some stigma and stereotypes remain. This diploma thesis is based on the theory of social construction of reality, where the mass media is considered one element involved in the construction of this reality. The aim of this work is to analyse the image of menstruation in the mass media created by professionals and compare it with the image of this topic in user generated content created by the public on social networks. Two research methods are used to obtain a comprehensive view of the specific issue - a quantitative content analysis and qualitative framework analysis. The quantitative content analysis is used to establish the frequency and occurrence of the topic of menstruation within mass media. The framework analysis is used to establish how this topic is represented and framed in the mass media and in user generated content.

The purpose of this study was to investigate physics undergraduate students’ conceptual change in the concepts of electric potential and energy (EPE) and electromagnetic induction (EMI). Along with this, categorization of students’ conceptions was done based on students’ epistemological and ontological descriptions of these concepts. In addition, the effect of cognitive perturbation using physics interactive simulations (CPS) in relation to cognitive conflict using physics interactive simulations (CCS) was investigated. A pragmatic mixed methods approach was used in a quasi-experimental design. Data were collected by using the modified Diagnostic Exam of Electricity and Magnetism (DEEM), focus group discussions (FGD) and concept maps (CM). Framework analysis was conducted separately on FGD and CM qualitative data to categorize students’ conceptions while concentration analysis was used to categorize students’ responses to the modified DEEM into three levels, during pre and post intervention. In the qualitative results, six categories of alternative conceptions (naive physics, lateral alternative conceptions, ontological alternative conceptions, Ohm’s P-Primes/ P-Primes, mixed conceptions and loose ideas) and two categories of conceptual knowledge (hierarchical and relational) were identified. The alternative conceptions were less frequently and inconsistently revealed within and across the categories. It was concluded that the categories have common characteristics of diversified distribution of alternative conceptions and multiple alternative conceptions of specific concepts within and across the categories. Most of the categories found in pre intervention persisted in post intervention, but with a lesser percentage extensiveness of categories of alternative conceptions in the CPS than in the CCS class and more percentage extensiveness of categories of conceptual knowledge in the CPS than in the CCS class. ANCOVA was separately conducted on the scores of 45 students on the modified DEEM and CM tests to compare the effectiveness of the CCS and CPS. The results showed a significant difference between the two classes of the post test scores on the DEEM test, (1, 36) = 4.66, p=0.04 and similarly, on the CM test, (1, 31) = 8.33, p=0.007. Consequently, it was concluded that there is a statistically significant difference between CPS and CCS in changing students’ alternative conceptions towards scientific conceptions favoring CPS. To characterize and compare students’ conceptual change of both treatment classes, Hake’s average normalized gain <g> from pre to post scores (the modified DEEM and the CM) were analyzed. Finally, it is suggested that in abstract conceptual areas of EM, cognitive perturbation through interactive simulations is more effective than cognitive conflict through interactive simulations in facilitating conceptual change, and, thus, should guide classroom instruction in the area. Furthermore, recommendations are also suggested for guiding future research in this area. / Science and Technology Education / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (Physics Education))

Background: Antenatal Psychosocial Assessment (APA) has recently been introduced into routine antenatal care, but the ways in which maternity service providers assess and respond to maternal stress are subject of debate. There is a lack of consensus on the instrument(s) of choice and lack of evidence regarding appropriate interventions. Further, national guidelines have not kept apace with the conceptual shift from ‘postnatal depression’ to ‘perinatal anxiety and depression’. Adopting the Medical Research Council Complex Interventions Framework, the ARMS research aimed to inform the development of interventions that support women who are experiencing, or at risk of, mild-moderate mental health disorder in pregnancy. Methods: A mixed methods approach was adopted. In the quantitative element (Study Part 1) participants (n=191) completed a questionnaire when attending for their first formal antenatal appointment, using a procedure and materials that had been previously tested in a pilot study. Details including mental health assessment and referrals were obtained from their health records, following delivery. In the qualitative element (Study Part 2) a sub-sample of women (n=22) experiencing high levels of maternal stress took part in up to three serial in-depth interviews during pregnancy and the early postnatal period.Findings: Maternal stress was found to be common. Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) threshold of ≥10, approximately 1 in 4 women were classed as high depression (halving to 1 in 8 at the more conservative threshold of ≥13). Almost 1 in 3 women were classed as high anxiety, using the state scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S, threshold ≥41), compared with 1 in 5 using the two-item GAD (threshold ≥3). Fewer than half of the women identified as high anxiety were identified by both measures. Factor analyses of the symptom measures were consistent with wider literature suggesting a three-item anxiety component of the EPDS; however, concurrent validation using regression analyses did not indicate that the EPDS could be used as an anxiety case finding instrument. Women reported that maternal stress had significant impact on their lives that may not be captured with existing clinical approaches. Women commonly found it difficult to self-assess severity of maternal stress and the assessment process could itself act as an intervention. The research provided the first validation of the depression case finding questions in UK clinical practice. The Whooley items completed in clinical practice identified only half of the possible cases identified by the EPDS, at both commonly adopted EPDS thresholds. Inclusion of the Arroll 'help' question as a criterion improved specificity of the assessment completed in clinical practice but substantially compromised sensitivity, missing 9 in 10 possible cases. Women’s mental health history and treatment history were similarly under-reported, particularly concerning anxiety. APA was introduced into routine clinical practice without attention to topics of relevance to women, context of disclosure or to provision of adequate resources for consistently responding to identified need. Women experiencing, or at risk of, mild-moderate disorder were thus usually ineligible for further support. Implications: Care pathways are needed that encompass both assessing and responding to maternal stress, where communication with health professionals, subsequent referral and management are addressed. The development, implementation and evaluation of low-cost resources embedded in such pathways are a priority and the research presented in the thesis offers a foundation on which to build.

The purpose of this study was to investigate physics undergraduate students’ conceptual change in the concepts of electric potential and energy (EPE) and electromagnetic induction (EMI). Along with this, categorization of students’ conceptions was done based on students’ epistemological and ontological descriptions of these concepts. In addition, the effect of cognitive perturbation using physics interactive simulations (CPS) in relation to cognitive conflict using physics interactive simulations (CCS) was investigated. A pragmatic mixed methods approach was used in a quasi-experimental design. Data were collected by using the modified Diagnostic Exam of Electricity and Magnetism (DEEM), focus group discussions (FGD) and concept maps (CM). Framework analysis was conducted separately on FGD and CM qualitative data to categorize students’ conceptions while concentration analysis was used to categorize students’ responses to the modified DEEM into three levels, during pre and post intervention. In the qualitative results, six categories of alternative conceptions (naive physics, lateral alternative conceptions, ontological alternative conceptions, Ohm’s P-Primes/ P-Primes, mixed conceptions and loose ideas) and two categories of conceptual knowledge (hierarchical and relational) were identified. The alternative conceptions were less frequently and inconsistently revealed within and across the categories. It was concluded that the categories have common characteristics of diversified distribution of alternative conceptions and multiple alternative conceptions of specific concepts within and across the categories. Most of the categories found in pre intervention persisted in post intervention, but with a lesser percentage extensiveness of categories of alternative conceptions in the CPS than in the CCS class and more percentage extensiveness of categories of conceptual knowledge in the CPS than in the CCS class. ANCOVA was separately conducted on the scores of 45 students on the modified DEEM and CM tests to compare the effectiveness of the CCS and CPS. The results showed a significant difference between the two classes of the post test scores on the DEEM test, (1, 36) = 4.66, p=0.04 and similarly, on the CM test, (1, 31) = 8.33, p=0.007. Consequently, it was concluded that there is a statistically significant difference between CPS and CCS in changing students’ alternative conceptions towards scientific conceptions favoring CPS. To characterize and compare students’ conceptual change of both treatment classes, Hake’s average normalized gain <g> from pre to post scores (the modified DEEM and the CM) were analyzed. Finally, it is suggested that in abstract conceptual areas of EM, cognitive perturbation through interactive simulations is more effective than cognitive conflict through interactive simulations in facilitating conceptual change, and, thus, should guide classroom instruction in the area. Furthermore, recommendations are also suggested for guiding future research in this area. / Science and Technology Education / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (Physics Education))

Le transfert de connaissances (TC) est un processus de collaboration entre les producteurs de connaissances (principalement des chercheurs) et les utilisateurs des connaissances (communautés, intervenants et décideurs) impliquant de nombreux éléments comme la synthèse, la diffusion et le partage. Cette thèse a pour objectifs de comprendre le TC dans différents projets de recherche et pratiques de gestion et de proposer une feuille de route de TC adapté au contexte brésilien. Plus spécifiquement, elle visait à : i) décrire trois projets comme exemples de trois modalités différentes de TC, ii) effectuer une analyse rétrospective des actions et stratégies de TC mises en œuvre par trois projets du réseau PDTSP-Teias couvrant la période de 2009 à 2013, et iii) vérifier comment la participation au réseau PDTSP-Teias a facilité le TC entre les producteurs et les utilisateurs de connaissances. À cette fin, cette thèse examine les pratiques de TC entre la recherche en promotion de la santé et la pratique de la santé dans le Programme de développement et d'innovation technologique en santé publique / Programa de Desenvolvimento e Inovação Tecnológica em Saúde Pública (réseau PDTSP-Teias). Un plan de TC existant de l'Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) a été utilisé comme cadre théorique pour orienter l'approche déductive-inductive utilisée pour générer et analyser les données provenant des documents, d‘entrevues et de groupe de discussion. Méthodes : Cette thèse a utilisé une étude de cas multiple rétrospective qualitative avec trois cas imbriqués dans le réseau PDTSP-Teias. L'accent était mis sur des questions suivantes : i) quelles approches de TC le réseau PDTSP-Teias a-t-il adoptées, ii) quelles actions et stratégies de TC les trois projets du réseau PDTSP-Teias ont-ils mis en œuvre, et iii) comment la participation au réseau PDTSP-Teias a-t-elle facilité le TC entre les utilisateurs et les producteurs de connaissances. Les données empiriques comprenaient l'analyse de documents (rapports, ouvrages et articles scientifiques), des entretiens semi-structurés avec des producteurs de connaissances (N = 9) et un groupe de discussion avec des utilisateurs des connaissances (N = 4 participants). Les entretiens portaient sur le développement des projets, l'élaboration de produits de TC et l'interaction entre les producteurs et les utilisateurs de connaissances. Résultats : En ce qui concerne le premier objectif, nous avons pu distinguer différentes expertises, approches et pratiques de TC des groupes de recherche. De cette première analyse, des exemples de trois pratiques différentes de TC ont été identifiés comme étant Majoritaire, Modéré et Peu ou Pas du tout. Ces exemples ont ensuite été analysés à l'aide des huit dimensions proposées par le cadre théorique utilisé. Le deuxième objectif a constaté que six des huit dimensions analysées semblaient être mieux intégrées dans les projets : D1 Analyse du contexte et besoins des utilisateurs, D2 Connaissances à traduire, D3 Connaissances sur les utilisateurs des connaissances, D4 Partenaires de TC, D5 Stratégies de TC et D6 Approche globale de TC. Cependant, deux dimensions étaient moins bien intégrées : D7 L'évaluation de TC et D8 Les ressources. Le troisième objectif nous a permis de constater que le manque d'évaluation des projets de TC, les questions liées aux ressources financières des projets de TC, le manque de soutien organisationnel et politique pour les projets de TC, et le manque d’outils conceptuels de TC pour la mise en œuvre des projets sont des obstacles au TC au Brésil. Toutefois, la participation au réseau PDTSP-Teias semble avoir favorisé les pratiques de TC. Ces résultats ont fourni une description et une analyse approfondie de la complexité des pratiques de TC contribuant ainsi à une meilleure compréhension des pratiques de TC au Brésil. Conclusion : Compte tenu de la manière dont les cas ont été caractérisés, on peut conclure que les pratiques de TC peuvent être très différentes même dans un contexte et des conditions de recherche similaires. Ces pratiques TC contrastées peuvent être dues à l'absence d'un outil conceptuel de TC approprié. Un tel outil peut combler le vide dans les approches et stratégies de TC du Brésil. Ainsi, l'adaptation du plan de TC du INSPQ peut permettre l'évolution du dialogue entre les producteurs et les utilisateurs de connaissances dans les projets de recherche, comprendre le contexte, et contribuer à la validation et à l'adoption des produits de TC. Ces changements profiteraient au changement des connaissances, des attitudes et des comportements des différents groupes impliqués. Enfin, cette thèse propose une adaptation fondamentale du plan de TC du INSPQ au contexte brésilien. / Knowledge translation (KT) is a collaborative process between knowledge producers (mostly researchers) and knowledge users (communities and decision-makers) involving many elements like synthesis, dissemination, and sharing. This thesis' main objectives are to understand KT in different research projects and management practices and propose a KT roadmap adapted to the Brazilian context. The three specific objectives pursued were to: i) describe three projects as examples of three different modalities of KT, ii) perform a post hoc analysis of the KT actions and strategies implemented by three projects of the PDTSP-Teias network in the period from 2009 to 2013, and iii) verify how participation in the PDTSP-Teias network facilitated KT between knowledge producers and knowledge users. To this end, this thesis examines KT practices between health promotion research and health practice in the Program for Technological Development and Innovation in Public Health/Programa de Desenvolvimento e Inovação Tecnológica em Saúde Pública (PDTSP-Teias network). An existing KT plan from the Quebec Public Health Institute (Institut national de santé publique du Québec - INSPQ) was employed as a theoretical framework to orient the deductive-inductive approach used to generate and analyze documents, interviews, and focus group materials. Methods: This thesis used a retrospective qualitative multiple case study with three cases nested in the PDTSP-Teias network. The focus was on relevant questions concerning KT in health promotion in Brazil, such as i) what KT approaches did the PDTSP-Teias network adopt, ii) what KT actions and strategies did the three projects of the PDTSP-Teias network implement, and iii) how did participation in the PDTSP-Teias network facilitate KT between knowledge users and knowledge producers. The empirical data included document analysis (reports, books, and scientific papers), semi-structured interviews with knowledge producers (N=9), and one focus group with knowledge users (N=4 participants). The interview guide addressed three sets of questions: project development, KT product elaboration, and interaction between knowledge producers and knowledge users. Results: Regarding the first objective, we were able to distinguish different KT expertise, approaches, and practices of the research groups. From this initial analysis, examples of three different KT practices were identified as Predominantly, Moderately, and Hardly or Not at all. These examples were then analyzed using the eight dimensions proposed by the theoretical framework. The second objective found that six of the eight dimensions analyzed seemed to be better integrated in the projects: D1 Analysis of the Context and Users’ Needs, D2 Knowledge to be Translated, D3 Knowledge about the Knowledge Users, D4 KT Partners, D5 KT Strategies, and D6 Overall KT Approach. However, two dimensions were less well-integrated: D7 KT Evaluation and D8 Resources. The third objective allowed us to see that the lack of KT project evaluation, issues related to KT projects financial resources, lack of organizational and political support addressed to KT projects, and lack of conceptual KT tools to implement KT projects are barriers to KT in Brazil. Nevertheless, albeit with some limits, participation in the PDTSP-Teias network seems to have facilitated KT practices. These results provided a description and an in-depth analysis of the complexity of KT practices in areas of high social vulnerability and contributed to a better understanding of KT practices in Brazil. Conclusion: Considering how the cases were characterized, it can be concluded that KT practices can be quite different even in a similar context and research conditions. These contrasting KT practices may be due to the absence of a suitable conceptual KT tool. Such a tool can fill the gap in Brazil's KT approaches and strategies. Thus, the adaptation of the INSPQ KT plan can allow the evolution of the dialogue between knowledge producers and knowledge users in research projects, understand the context, and contribute to the validation and adoption of KT products. These changes would benefit the change in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of the different groups involved. Lastly, this thesis offers a seminal adaptation of the INSPQ KT plan to the Brazilian context.

This thesis is one of the first in the Czech Republic dealing with the theme of gifted students in geography. The main aim of the thesis is to define the character of gifted grammar school student in geography. This wide and interdisciplinary theme is then divided into several scientific subthemes and questions. The basic theoretical approaches to the definition of gifted students generally and gifted students in geography are discussed in the theoretical background. The research part contains of the content evaluation of the International Geography Olympiad and the outcomes of the structured guided interviews. The content of the questions of the International Geography Olympiad is evaluated through the own constructed structured evaluation and then these questions are compared to the official Czech requirements for the graduation exam in geography. The outcomes of the guided interview are organized and interpreted using the method of the framework analysis. Despite the few problems while getting and analysing the data, there are finally defined the main characteristics of the gifted grammar school student in geography in the summary of this thesis.

Ce mémoire examine la pratique du dépistage prénatal et du diagnostic prénatal (désormais les tests prénataux ) en deux temps. D’abord, et après une brève mise en contexte, je présente une analyse des facteurs qui ont influencé la mise en place du Programme québécois de dépistage prénatal de la trisomie 21 (PQDPT21). En me basant sur la littérature gouvernementale, je démontre comment un ensemble de pressions politiques, éthiques et sociales a mené à l’impératif d’PQDPT21. Ensuite, je présente une revue de la recherche qualitative à propos de l’expérience de poursuivre une grossesse affectée par l’aneuploïdie fœtale, y compris la trisomie 21. Les principaux résultats de cette revue suggèrent que la ‘rhétorique’ du choix n’est pas toujours démontrée lorsque les parents amènent à terme un fœtus diagnostiqué avec aneuploïdie. Ensuite, je discuterai de l’ensemble de ces travaux selon le concept foucaldien de biopolitique, où les normes et la normalisation agissent sur la régulation politique et sociale. En conclusion, des recommandations pour la recherche et la pratique sont proposées, principalement la nécessité de documenter l’expérience vécue des personnes qui participent aux tests prénataux et d’intégrer ces constatations dans les décisions politiques et dans l’éducation des professionnels de la santé. / This thesis examines the practice of prenatal screening and prenatal diagnosis (henceforth “prenatal testing”) from two angles. Firstly, following a brief introduction to provide context, I present a framework analysis of the factors that influenced the implementation of the Trisomy 21 Prenatal Screening Program of Québec (T21PSPQ). Using governmental literature, I demonstrate how a combination of political, ethical and social pressures led to the imperative of the T21PSPQ. I then present a scoping review of primary empirical qualitative research regarding the experiences of continuing a pregnancy affected by fetal aneuploidy, including trisomy 21. The main findings of this review suggest the ‘rhetoric’ of choice is not always demonstrated in cases where prospective parents bring to term a fetus diagnosed with aneuploidy. The results of this work are then discussed through the Foucauldian concept of biopolitics, where norms and normalization are the principal forms of social and political regulation. Finally, recommendations for research and practice are offered, mainly the need to document the lived experience of those participating in prenatal testing and to incorporate those findings into policy making and into education for health care professionals.