The present thesis deals with Åland, i.e. the Åland Islands, as a language environment. Its main focus is on the language attitudes of adolescents. The status, role and use of Swedish, Finnish and English are topical. Its main part consists of an empirical study, which is based on an extensive questionnaire answered by students in grade 9 of primary school and in the second grade of the (theoretical) secondary school in Åland. The thesis includes a description of Åland as a language environment. The legal framework making Åland an autonomous region in Finland with Swedish as the only official language is presented. Language policies in Åland are compared with those of Sweden and Finland (outside of Åland). Special treatment is given to the school as a linguistic environment and recent language related debate in Åland. The central questions in the questionnaire relate to language choice, media habits, subjective estimations of the respondents’ own language competence and language attitudes in a broad sense. Six hypotheses based on a model of secure and insecure majorities and minorities as well as the Interactive Acculturation Model are postulated and treated. The results of the empirical study reveal very strong feelings of affinity towards Åland. Attitudes towards English and English-speakers are in general positive. The results reveal somewhat ambivalent attitudes towards Finnish and Finland. Many variables show a tendency among the respondents to favour Sweden ahead of Finland and negative attitudes towards Finnish but there are also other conflicting results. The respondents who have parents who speak Finnish to them display more positive attitudes towards Finnish and Finland. These differences between the groups are statistically significant. However, the group with a Finnish language background also displays its strongest feelings of affinity towards Åland.

Patientutbildning är en viktig del av behandlingen vid typ 2 diabetes. Det finns dock ingen samlad kartläggning av vilken patientutbildning som bedrivs sedan tidigare. Syftet med studien var att kartlägga hur patientutbildning för personer med typ 2 diabetes bedrevs inom primärvården i Sverige år 2006 samt studera om det fanns något samband mellan hur patientutbildning bedrevs och personernas metabola kontroll. Totalt deltog 684 vårdcentraler/hälsocentraler/mottagningar (mottagningar). Data erhölls både från en enkät och Nationella diabetesregistret som omfattade 91 637 patienter med typ 2 diabetes. Resultatet analyserades genom kvalitativ innehållsanalys och med multipla linjära regressionsanalyser. Resultatet visade att den vanligaste formen av utbildning var patientutbildning med förutbestämt innehåll som bedrevs individuellt på 362 mottagningar, utav dessa mottagningar bedrev 108 kompletterande grupputbildning. Patientutbildning utifrån patienternas behov bedrevs individuellt på 55 mottagningar och utav dessa bedrev 12 kompletterande grupputbildning. Ospecificerad patientutbildning förekom på 267 mottagningar. Ett statistiskt signifikant samband konstaterades som indikerade att patienternas HbA1c var lägre på de mottagningar som bedrev individuell utbildning utifrån patientens behov, vilket förekom på 55 av mottagningarna. Studien har visat att vid patientutbildning var det främst vårdgivaren som bestämde vad patienten behövde veta och utgick ifrån någon form av checklista. Få vårdgivare utgick utifrån patientens behov och intresse. / Patient education is an important part of the treatment in type 2 diabetes. Today there is no collected survey of patient education. The aim of the study was to survey how patient education for persons with type 2 diabetes was carried out within the primary care in Sweden and study if there was some relation between how patient education was carried out and persons' HbA1c, BMI and physical activates. Totally 684 health care centres participated. Data was received from a questionnaire and the national diabetes register that covered 91637 patients with type 2 diabetes. Data was analyzed through qualitative content analysis and with multiple linear regression analysis. The result showed that most common form of education was "Patient education with a predestined content", that was practiced individually in 362 of the health care centres, 108 of these also practiced complementary group education.  "Patient education based on the patients needs" was carried out individually at 55 health care centres, 12 were also carried out complementary group education. "Unspecified patient education" was practiced in 267 health care centres. A statistical significant relation was found indicating that patients  receiving individual education based on the patient's needs HbA1c was lower (55 health care centres). The most common procedure was a checklist in which the care provider decided what the patient needed to know.  Most of the care providers in patient education disregarded the patient's needs and interest.

Abstract Title: A union, a collaboration and a currency crisis- a quantitative study of the media coverage of the euro crisis within the European Union in Spanish and Swedish newspapers. The purpose of this study was to see whether Sweden and Spain ́s differences in media climates and relations to the euro crisis would affect how the story was portrayed from a narrative perspective. Did the coverage differ between the two countries and who got to comment on the situation in the media were two of the questions I strived to answer. I also wanted to see how the coverage reflected on the situation that the euro crisis has created. In this study I used a number of theories that I based my research on. The main theories I focused on was about different media systems and Sweden and Spain ́s relation to the euro crisis. Other theories that this study rests on are narrative theory and media logic. The method I used was a quantitative text analysis from a narrative perspective. I formed variables that I tested against all of the articles. To limit the research to a manageable level I chose to analyze the articles of one newspaper from each country. The two newspapers that I analyzed were Dagens Nyheter from Sweden and El País from Spain. The results showed that the two countries, despite what the theories might have implied, portrayed the story in similar ways. The differences between the countries media climates and their relations to the euro crisis where not apparent in the newspapers storytelling. In almost all of the articles in both countries people in powerful positions got to make their voices heard whilst the citizens affected by the crisis rarely got the same opportunity. Spain reported more on the situation that followed the crisis and Sweden wrote more often about a solution to the problem.

<p>The appeal of Allport&rsquo / s Contact Hypothesis lies in the simplicity of its core principle, which holds that contact between different groups may serve to reduce prejudices. Contact needs to meet key conditions, i.e. equal power, cooperation towards a common goal and institutional support. Support has been found for the Contact Hypothesis in its original form and for those contacts which fail to meet the specified conditions. This study sought to explore whether contact, in forms different to those traditionally defined by the Contact Hypothesis, i.e. exposure, had any bearing on group prejudice. The prejudice and its underlying negative attitudes of interest, were those informed by HIV and AIDS stigma. HIV and AIDS stigma, defined as a discrediting quality and informed by social processes, is of particular concern as it impedes prevention, treatment and care efforts in South Africa&rsquo / s response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The health care context is often an area where Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) are confronted with HIV and AIDS stigma. The research aims were thus to explore the extent of HIV and AIDS stigma amongst health care workers, the forms of exposure to PLHIV and the relationship between exposure and HIV and AIDS stigma. A quantitative, survey design was employed to accomplish these aims and to test formulated hypotheses, which were based on current literature and the core principle of the Contact Hypothesis. The sample consisted of 202 health care workers in the Cape Town metropole. Data analyses revealed the existence of low to moderate levels of HIV and AIDS stigma and also found that most of the sample had exposure to PLHIV in either its individual forms or overall form. Bivariate correlations revealed negative relationships between forms of exposure, overall exposure and stigma.</p>

Psykisk ohälsa ökar i samhället och de som arbetar inom kontaktyrken löper stor risk att utsättas för stress. Tre av tio lärare i förskoleklass, grundskolan och fritidshem har besvär relaterade till arbetet som i stor utsträckning är orsakad av stress. En individs aktivitetsbalans påverkar dennes hälsa och välbefinnande. Syftet var att beskriva lärares självskattade stress och aktivitetsbalans. Examensarbetet gjordes genom en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie med bakgrundsfrågor, frågor om stress och instrumentet Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ). Det var 57 respondenter som besvarade enkäten. Respondenterna skattade högre stress på arbetet än utanför arbetet. Respondenterna har en relativt låg aktivitetsbalans. Det finns ett signifikant negativt samband mellan stress och aktivitetsbalans. Det finns ingen signifikant skillnad mellan respondenterna med hemmaboende barn och utan hemmaboende barn, på variablerna stress på arbetet, stress utanför arbetet eller aktivitetsbalans. Arbetsterapeuter skulle kunna ge hälsofrämjande och förebyggande insatser till lärare, för att minska deras stress och bibehålla och förbättra deras aktivitetsbalans. Resultatet kan inte generaliseras då det är få respondenter, men det kan ligga till grund för vidare studier. / Mental illness increases in the society and those who works in contact professions have a high risk be exposed to stress. Three in ten preschool teachers, recreation instructors and compulsory school teachers have troubles related to the work, stress is a common cause. A person’s occupational balance influences health and well-being. The purpose was to describe self-rated stress and occupational balance among teachers and recreation instructors. A quantitative cross-sectional study which included demographic questions, questions about stress and the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ). There was 57 participants. The participants self-rated higher stress at work than outside work. The participants had a low occupational balanced. It was a negative correlation between stress and occupational balanced. It was no significant difference between those living with or without children, on the variables stress at work, outside work or occupational balanced. Occupational therapists can provide health promotional and prevention measures to teachers and recreation instructors to decrease their stress, maintain and improve their occupational balance. The results can not be generalize because of a low number of participants, but it can be used for future studies.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / The appeal of Allport's Contact Hypothesis lies in the simplicity of its core principle, which holds that contact between different groups may serve to reduce prejudices. Contact needs to meet key conditions, i.e. equal power, cooperation towards a common goal and institutional support. Support has been found for the Contact Hypothesis in its original form and for those contacts which fail to meet the specified conditions. This study sought to explore whether contact, in forms different to those traditionally defined by the Contact Hypothesis, i.e. exposure, had any bearing on group prejudice. The prejudice and its underlying negative attitudes of interest, were those informed by HIV and AIDS stigma. HIV and AIDS stigma, defined as a discrediting quality and informed by social processes, is of particular concern as it impedes prevention, treatment and care efforts in South Africa's response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The health care context is often an area where Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) are confronted with HIV and AIDS stigma. The research aims were thus to explore the extent of HIV and AIDS stigma amongst health care workers, the forms of exposure to PLHIV and the relationship between exposure and HIV and AIDS stigma. A quantitative, survey design was employed to accomplish these aims and to test formulated hypotheses, which were based on current literature and the core principle of the Contact Hypothesis. The sample consisted of 202 health care workers in the Cape Town metropole. Data analyses revealed the existence of low to moderate levels of HIV and AIDS stigma and also found that most of the sample had exposure to PLHIV in either its individual forms or overall form. Bivariate correlations revealed negative relationships between forms of exposure, overall exposure and stigma. / South Africa

Syftet med föreliggande kvantitativa enkätstudie är att undersöka vilka förutsättningar som finns för att lära sig folklig sång i sångundervisning Detta gjordes genom att undersöka sångpedagogers förtrogenhet i att undervisa i svensk folkmusik, hur vanligt förekommande folklig sång är i undervisningen och genom att kartlägga repertoarområden i sångundervisningen. Tidigare forskning visar att rock och pop dominerar musikundervisningen i grundskolan. Resultatet visar att folklig sång sällan förekommer och att äldre traditionella visor och ballader är det vanligaste repertoarområdet. Nära 80% av sångpedagogerna uttrycker att de saknar eller att de delvis har förtrogenhet för folklig sång. Resterande, strax över 20%, uttrycker att de till stor del eller helt har förtrogenhet för folklig sång. I diskussionen lyfts de stilistiska dragen fram i förhållanden till repertoarområden vilket mynnar ut i att förutsättningen att möta vissa av folkmusikens stilistiska drag är betydligt lägre än andra. Där diskuteras också resultatet i förhållande till skolans styrdokument och tidigare forskning. / The purpose of the present quantitative survey study is to investigate the prerequisites for learning folk songs in singing education today. This was done by examining singing educators' familiarity with teaching Swedish folk music, how common folk songs are, and a mapping of traditional folk music repertoire areas in singing education. Previous research shows that rock and pop dominate music education in elementary school. The result showed that folk songs rarely occur and that older traditional songs and ballads are the most common repertoire area. Nearly 80% of singing teachers say they lack, or have some familiarity with traditional singing. The remaining 20% of report that they largely or completely familiarize themselves with traditional singing. In the discussion, stylistic elements are discussed in relation to various areas of repertoire. Furthermore, the lack of prerequisites for meeting the traditional features in folk music is discussed in relation to the tendency of overemphasizing some repertoire areas. Finally, the result is discussed in relation to governing documents and previous research.

Le souci du respect de la législation applicable en matière de Santé et de Sécurité au Travail (SST) est longtemps resté absent des politiques managériales des entreprises, et ce quelle que soit leur taille. Cependant, sous l'effet de pressions légales, économiques, sociales ou encore en raison du développement de référentiels normatifs dans ce domaine (exemples : OHSAS 18001), les employeurs sont incités à développer des dispositifs de maîtrise de la conformité légale plus ou moins complexes. Cependant, la mise en œuvre de véritables Systèmes de Maîtrise des Conformités (SMC) implique le déploiement de ressources humaines, financières, temporelles, méthodologiques mais également technologiques importantes. Pour faire face à cette situation, différentes catégories de prestataires de services proposent désormais des solutions de suivi et de gestion de la conformité. Malgré cela, l'étude de l'état des pratiques d'entreprise en matière de maîtrise des conformités légales SST montre que ces dernières sont encore extrêmement hétérogènes et que des besoins en matière de méthodes ou encore d'outils de consolidation des données (rapports de conformité, plans d'actions, ...) apparaissent nettement. En s'appuyant sur ces éléments de contexte, ce travail de recherche propose la modélisation d'un Système de Maîtrise des Conformités répondant aux besoins exprimés par de nombreuses entreprises afin de gérer des aspects tels que la veille réglementaire, les évaluations de conformité ou encore la gestion des plans d'actions. Afin d'évaluer l'intérêt et la pertinence du modèle proposé, plusieurs expérimentations ont été conduites en entreprise. Une synthèse des résultats obtenus est présentée à la fin de ce travail. / The problematic of legal rulings concerning Occupational Health and Safety atwork (OHS) was absent from companies management policies for a long time, regardless of their size. However, because of legal, economic, social pressures and the development of normative references in the field of OHS (such as OHSAS 18001), employers are encouraged to develop more or less complex compliance management devices. Nevertheless, the implementation of a real Compliance Management System (CMS) forces to deploy important human, financial, time, methodological and technical resources. To face this situation, different categories of services providers henceforth propose monitoring and management solutions. Despite this, the study of companies state practices in the field of mastering OHS legal compliance shows that these practices are extremely heterogeneous and that needs concerning methods and data consolidation tools (compliance reports, action plans…) clearly appear. Based on these context elements, this research work proposes the modelling of a Compliance Management System responding to needs expressed by many companies to deal with aspects such as regulatory monitoring, compliance assessment and action plans management. To evaluate the interest and the relevance of the proposed model, several experimentations were conducted in companies. A synthesis of the results obtained is presented at the end of this research work.

Purpose:  The purpose of this study is to analyze the perceived impact of business intelligence tools on marketing success. Methodology:  This research has conducted based on a literature study in the field business intelligence and pharmaceutical industry marketing. Primary  data  has  been  used  in  this  thesis  to  evaluate  the information technology impact on the  market performance for pharmaceutical industries. The SPSS software package is used to analyze the employee responses and statistical technique. Regression analysis is used to check the impact of information technology on market performance. Findings: One hundred fifty questionnaires were given to the employees of 15 different pharmaceutical companies located in Pakistan. Among them, 104 were collected back and 100 questionnaires were considered valid and used for further analysis. After analyzing the data, it was evaluated that information technology has a significant impact on market performance in pharmaceutical industries. According to the stakeholders, strategic planning, organizational support, knowledge management and technological advancement have significant impact on the success of information technology for decision support systems. Research limitations/Implications: More research will be required on the theory presented in this thesis “The Perceived Impact of Business Intelligence Tools on Marketing Success”.

Bakgrund och problem: Private equity-aktörers värdeskapande är ett fenomen som studerats internationellt sedan 80-talet och intensifierats under det senaste årtiondet. Med en mängd forskning angående prestationen under ägandeskapet är utbudet mindre huruvida prestationen är bestående och hur portföljbolagen presterar efter att de avyttrats. Trots detta råder det ingen konsensus kring tidigare studiers resultat. Mot bakgrund av den motstridighet som föreligger i tidigare forskning och den uppmärksammade debatten om riskkapitalisters värdeskapande söker denna studie att studera och undersöka ämnet närmre för den skandinaviska marknaden. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur skandinaviska portföljbolag presterar efter avyttring genom börsintroduktion. Studien ämnar därmed att utreda, kartlägga och skapa bättre förståelse huruvida det föreligger någon skillnad i tidigare PE-ägda portföljbolags prestation gentemot branschkonkurrenter utifrån utvalda nyckeltal. Metod: Studien applicerar en kvantitativ forskningsmetod, vilket är i linje med tidigare forskning och referensstudier som även använder ett parametriskt och ett icke-parametriskt statistiskt test för att utröna om över- eller underprestation föreligger för tidigare PE-ägda portföljbolag. Därefter har studiens resultat analyserats med bakgrund av tidigare forskning och vedertagna teorier inom ämnet. Slutsats: Studiens resultat konstaterar att tidigare PE-ägda portföljbolag som börsnoterats inte överpresterar sina branschkonkurrenter, utan presterar sämre eller endast i linje med dem. Till skillnad från tidigare forskning kan ingen av- eller tilltagande effekt urskiljas, vilket innebär att ägarbytet vid börsnoteringen inte medför några bestående komparativa konkurrensför- eller nackdelar. / Background and problem: Private equity companies’ long-term performance is a phenomena that has been examined internationally since the 80’s, which has intensified over the last decade. With a lot of research focusing on performance during the ownership, the offer is less extensive whether the performance is long-term and how the divested portfolio companies perform after the private equity companies exit. Nevertheless, there is up today no consensus regarding the result of the previous studies. In the light of the contradiction of the previous research and the debate on risk capitalists’ value creation, this study seeks to investigate the phenomena closer on the Scandinavian market. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how Scandinavian portfolio companies perform after divestment through an IPO. The study thus aims to investigate, plot and create a better understanding of whether there is any difference in past PE-owned portfolio companies’ performance relative industry competitors bases on selected key ratios. Methodology: The study applies a quantitative research method, which in line with previous research and reference studies, uses a statistical parametric and a non-parametric test to determine whether over- or underperformance exists for previous PE-owned portfolio companies. The result of the study have been analyzed in the light of previous research and conventional theories within the field of subject. Conclusions: This study’s findings show that previous private equity owned portfolio companies do not over perform their industry peers, but perform in line or inferior to them. Unlike previous research, no decreasing or increasing effect can be distinguished which means that the change of ownership through the IPO does not bring any long-term comparative competitive advantages or disadvantages.