The purpose of this dissertation was to explore and understand how the dominant ideological effect of capitalism has influenced the development of one local ten-year plan to end homelessness in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Ten-year plans to end homelessness were instituted through a national initiative launched by the Bush Administration in 2003. The Allegheny County Homeless Alliance Advisory Board (HAAB) was studied because they were the appointed group held responsible for the implementation of the local plan. The literature review established a context for homelessness and capitalism, exploring how the two concepts are connected. Analysis occurred on multiple levels to reveal power-based constraints in both a local, extralocal, and theoretical context. The study was conducted utilizing an extended case method approach, exploring sociological aspects of capitalist phenomenon utilizing Marxist tradition. Data was gathered during open ended interviews with HAAB members, participant observation of meetings, field notes, and within document analysis of three years of quarterly meetings. The study revealed an association between submerged and tightly interwoven internal and external systems of control as exerted by the local governmental body responsible for implementing the group's plan. Secondary outcomes indicated that there were increased levels of awareness and communication among the diverse membership of the HAAB. Furthermore, the data illustrated that internal networks and relationships had spawned transformative actions outside of the institutionalized governmental structure of the group. The theoretical findings in this dissertation indicate that Marxism can be reconstructed and extended to better explain the dehumanizing effects of capitalism. The research suggests that praxical transformation of embedded capitalist-driven social relationships can be initiated through a cyclical process of reflection, evaluation, education, and critical discourse. Furthermore, empowering and educating group participants to carry out plan implementation through democratically-informed consensus building processes may be more effective than bureaucratic-led, state-run, government-driven approaches to ending homelessness. Expanded research focusing on how capitalism influences interpersonal relationships and corresponding institutional structures is needed to better reveal unjust power-based relationships that defeat the purpose of plans to eradicate homelessness and poverty. / Dissertation Chair: Dr. Harvey Holtz (Retired) Dissertation Committee Members: Dr. Melanie Hildebrandt and Dr. Thomas VanDyke

2009 kom det en regeringsrättsdom som innebar en praxisförändring vid handläggning av personlig assistans. Domen innebär en mer restriktiv hållning till matsituationen som grundläggande behov vid beslut om rätten till personlig assistans. Praxisförändringen medförde att fler personer än tidigare förlorade sin rätt till assistansersättning enligt lagen om assistansersättning (SFS 1993:389) (LASS) och blev istället hänvisade till den kommunala hjälpapparaten. Syftet med enkätundersökningen var att kartlägga hur svenska kommuner och stadsdelsförvaltningar hanterar praxisförändringen.   Denna uppsats baseras på en kvantitativ enkätundersökning. Undersökningen genomfördes med ett webbaserat enkätprogram. Enkäten skickades till en LSS-handläggare i varje svensk kommun.   Det är vanligare att stora kommuner har en plan för att möta praxisförändringen. Det finns regionala skillnader främst mellan vilka insatser som man får om man kommer under tjugo timmar grundläggande behov och därmed inte har rätt till assistansersättning enligt LASS. Bor man i Norrland är det något vanligare att man får hemtjänst än om man bor i södra Sverige. Det är även vanligare med hemtjänst som insats om man bor i en vänsterstyrd kommun.   De kommuner som anser att praxisförändringen medför högre kostnader för brukaren är ofta de kommuner som i högre grad använder sig av hemtjänst istället för kommunalt finansierad personlig assistans.  Det finns även skillnader i hur många timmar grundläggande behov som en brukare anses behöva komma upp i för att vara berättigad personlig assistans finansierad av kommunen. Kommunernas bedömning skiljer sig angående om man får behålla sina assistenter efter att ha blivit av med ersättningen från LASS. En tredjedel anger att det är ovanligt eller omöjligt att en brukare kan behålla sina assistenter. I kommuner med vänsterstyre är det vanligare att rätten att behålla sin personal är en självklarhet. / In the year 2009, a verdict from the Supreme administrative court concerning personal assistance came into being. The verdict contributed to a more restrictive attitude concerning the food situation as a basic need in decisions concerning the right to personal assistance. The verdict resulted in more people than before lost their right to assistance according to lagen om assistansersättning (SFS 1993:389) (LASS), and had to use the help offered from the municipality. This survey’s aim is to investigate how Swedish municipalities and municipal district administrations handle the outcomes of the change in praxis.    This essay is based on a quantitative survey. The enquiry was carried out using a web based survey program. The survey was sent to one official working with LSS-handling in each Swedish municipality.   It is more common that big municipalities have a plan for the change in praxis. Further more, our results have shown that there are regional differences. The differences are mostly shown in what type of interventions that are offered to the people who do not reach the twenty hours limit for their basic needs, and therefore do not have the right to assistance allowance according to LASS. It is more common to be offered home care services in Norrland than it is in southern Sweden. Municipalities with a left wing government also seem to offer home care services to a greater extent.   Municipalities who claim that the change in praxis contribute to greater costs for the user more often use home care services instead of municipally financed assistance services. There are also differences in how many hours of basic needs the user needs to be calculated for in order to qualify for personal assistance offered by the municipality. The municipalities assess differently concerning the right to keep the personal assistants when the allowance from LASS is lost. One third claims that it is unusual or impossible to keep the assistants. It is more common that keeping the assistants is given and obvious in municipalities ruled by a left wing government.

Family violence is a tragedy in any community. The pastoral image of a quiet home in "Mayberry" is shattered by the reality of family violence. The literature reveals that family violence is a social health issue in rural communities, however it does not provide sufficient insight into the influential contextual factors. The goal of this research was to conduct an ethnography into relevant contextual factors in rural family violence to provide researchers with information on which to base decisions, develop effective programs and interventions, and influence policy. The purpose was to better understand this social health issue within the context of a rural community and to identify influential contextual factors useful in developing a praxis theory for addressing health issues in rural communities.Specific aims were: 1) to learn from rural residents how rural context affects family and community health; 2) to deepen understanding of family violence related to rurality; and 3) to propose a theoretical model of family violence for eventual practical use in informing, assessing, and intervening with a community.Methodology: Within a paradigm of social constructivism, interviews and focus groups provided data for this ethnographic study and a scholarly description of family violence in a rural community in southeastern Arizona.Findings: An iterative process of data analysis yielded five organizing themes and an emerging praxis theory. The organizing themes were substance abuse; lack of resources; lack of understanding and awareness of family violence; family and values; and strong sense of community. The emerging theory indicates it is necessary to consider the context, physical environment, and significant relationships of a person when developing and implementing a plan of care to achieve optimal outcomes.Conclusion: A constructionist view that undergirds ethnographic methodology allows for the voice of the community to express the local realities. The juxtaposition of knowledge of nursing and this constructionist view generates meaningful descriptions and understandings of the health problem of family violence. This new knowledge can be used to work with the community to identify intervention strategies. The issues of family violence are inseparably intertwined within a community, so are the solutions.

Svenska skolelever presterar allt sämre på internationella matematiktester och det förs en ständig öppen debatt om detta. Detta är min granskande studie i vad som händer i en matematikgrupp som havererar. Genom att gå på djupet i en berättelse försöker jag reda ut vad som händer under ytan när undervisningen inte fungerar. Allt oftare stämmer inte verkligheten med styrdokument och teori om skolan som verksamhet och organisation. Uppsatsen är skriven inom ramen för ämnet yrkeskunnande och teknologi och fokuserar på tyst kunskap och kollektiv kunskap.

Texte remanié de: Diss.--Fachbereich 05--Hamburg--Universität.

Master-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2009.

Master-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2009.

Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2000--Berlin.

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