Bakgrund: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) kan förklaras som de aktiviteter företagen åtar sig för att säkerställa att deras intressenter drar nytta och inte missgynnas av deras verksamhet. Forskning kring ämnet har riktats främst på företags sociala ansvarstagande för externa intressenter varför vi fokuserat på ansvaret för en intern intressentgrupp, de anställda, då det framgår att det råder brist på forskning kring ämnet. Genom att belysa hur chefer och konsulter uppfattar bemanningsföretags sociala ansvarstagande för anställda bidrar vi med ökad förståelse för hur detta ansvar tas. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att bidra till ökad förståelse för hur bemanningsföretag tar det sociala ansvaret för konsulterna. Genomförande: Uppsatsen bygger på en kvalitativ små-N-studie med ett hermeneutiskt och fenomenografiskt förhållningssätt. Studien är gjord enligt en abduktiv ansats där urvalet av respondenter gjorts genom ett bekvämlighetsurval och ett målstyrt a priori-urval. Slutsats: Enligt vår tolkning uppfattar cheferna att de tar sitt fulla ansvar, ekonomiskt- legalt-etiskt, vilket bekräftas av att de uppfattar konsulterna som en prioriterad intressentgrupp. Konsulterna uppfattar dock att det etiska ansvaret faller bort vilket bekräftas av att de inte uppfattar att bemanningsföretagen ser dem som en prioriterad intressentgrupp. I processen har vi upptäckt att ålder och erfarenhetsnivå, det triangulära förhållandet mellan bemanningsföretag, kundföretag och konsulten samt att kommunikationen och informationsspridningen påverkar varför uppfattningarna om fenomenet skiljer sig. Bemanningsföretagen behöver uppmärksamma att olika uppfattningar om ett fenomen kan förekomma och behöver därför arbeta för att undvika eventuella konflikter som kan uppstå på grund av detta. Konsulterna och bemanningsföretagen men även företag och anställda i allmänhet kan se till vårt resultat för att öka medvetenheten och förståelsen för sin egen situation för att på så sätt kunna skapa en bättre relation sinsemellan. Olikheter i uppfattningar mellan ledningen och de anställda gäller enligt oss rimligtvis inte enbart för bemanningsbranschen utan kan förekomma var som helst. / Background: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be explained as the company’s activities performed to ensure that their stakeholders' benefit, and are not disadvantaged, by their operations. Research on the subject has focused primarily on the company’s social responsibility towards its external stakeholders, hence we focus on highlighting the issue towards an internal stakeholder, the employees. There is a lack of research on specifically the employees and their perceptions of the subject. By highlighting how managers and consultants within temporary work agencies perceive the company's social responsibility we contribute to an increased understanding of how this responsibility is taken. Purpose: The aim of the study is to contribute to an increased understanding of how staffing companies take their social responsibility towards consultants. Research method: This thesis is built on a qualitative study with a hermeneutic and phenomenographic point of view. The study is conducted according to an abductive approach were the respondents has been chosen through a comfort-selection as well as a targeted a priori-selection. Conclusion: According to our interpretations, the managers perceive that they take their full responsibility, financially-legal-ethical, and that the consultants are a priority. The consultants however, perceive the ethical responsibility to be non-existent and that they are not considered a priority to the company. In the process, we have discovered that age and experience level, the triangular relationship between temporary work agencies, the hiring companies and the consultants as well as that the communication and the dissemination of information affect why the perceptions of the phenomenon differ. The agencies need to pay attention to the fact that different perceptions about a phenomenon may occur and therefore need to work to avoid any related conflicts. The consultants and the agencies, but also companies and employees in general, can look to our results to increase awareness and understanding of their own situation in order to improve their relationship with each other. Differences in perceptions between management and employees is not only applicable to the staffing industry, but can reasonably occur anywhere.

The research focused on constructing a psychological wellbeing profile for employee wellness and talent retention practices by investigating employees’ psychological wellbeing-related attributes (constituting self-esteem, emotional intelligence, hardiness, work engagement and psychosocial flourishing), and whether these significantly mediate the relation between their experiences of bullying and their intention to leave the organisation when controlling for bullying, age, gender, race, tenure and job level. A quantitative survey was conducted on a convenience sample of employed adults (N = 373) of different age, gender, race, tenure and job level groups from various South African organisations. The canonical statistical procedures indicated work engagement (vigour, dedication and absorption) and hardiness (commitment-alienation) as the strongest psychological wellbeing-related dispositional attributes in the workplace bullying and turnover intention relationship. The mediation modelling results showed that workplace bullying significantly predicted turnover intention, which in turn, significantly predicted either high/low levels of work engagement (vigour and dedication) in one’s work. Self-esteem, emotional intelligence or hardiness did not seem likely to influence the relationship between workplace bullying and turnover intention. The multiple regression analysis indicated that participants’ biographical variables (age, gender, race and job level) significantly predicted workplace bullying, self-esteem, emotional intelligence, hardiness, work engagement and psychosocial flourishing, and turnover intention. The tests for significant mean differences indicated that participants from various biographical groups (age, gender, race, tenure and job level) statistically significantly differed regarding workplace bullying (independent variable), the psychological wellbeing-related variables, namely self-esteem, emotional intelligence, hardiness, employee engagement, psychosocial flourishing (mediating variables) and turnover intention (dependent variable). On a theoretical level, the study deepened understanding of the cognitive, affective and conative behavioural dimensions of the hypothesised psychological wellbeing profile. On an empirical level, the main findings were reported and interpreted in terms of an empirically derived psychological wellbeing profile based on the work engagement of the participants. On a practical level, the findings provided valuable guidelines for the development of talent retention and wellness interventions, which might add to the body of knowledge relating to psychological wellbeing-related dispositional attributes that influenced workplace bullying and talent retention / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The main topic of the diploma thesis "Subjective wellbeing: approaches and evaluation in EU-15 and in the Czech Republic" is the subjective wellbeing and its conceptualization, especially the importance of this concept in the field of measurement and assessment of the progress and of the development of societies, which are sustainable. The thesis analyses the documents, which are published in the countries of EU-15 to cover the topic of the national strategies for sustainable development. The analysis considers the extent of the relevance of these documents from the perspective of including the concept of subjective wellbeing (with happiness, quality of life, satisfaction) in the texts and it also examines the wellbeig indicators, which are implemented in these texts and which are relative to the factors with certain influence on the level of personal or social wellbeing. The analysis is interested in the study of Czech documents relevant to this topic as well (The Czech Republic's Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development and Progress report). The aim of this particular study is to identify the expressed explicit and also implicit signs of the subjective wellbeing. The last part of the analysis tries to answer the question, whether the required data, which can be used for the construction of...

The purpose of this collective case study was to explore the significance of choral singing for choristers and conductors participating in a national extra-curricular schools choral singing programme in South Africa. Understanding the experiences of choristers and conductors can contribute to principals, administrators of singing programmes, parents and conductors supporting choral singing activities. The method of inquiry was a qualitative collective case study with probing semi-structured open-ended questions to better understand the value and meaning of choral singing. Sampling comprised six purposefully chosen choirs, consisting of three primary and three secondary schools, portraying the unique socio-economic environment found in an agricultural rural town in central South Africa. Twenty-five participants were carefully selected, including 19 choristers and 6 conductors, 9 males and 16 females aged between 10 and 62 years. Eight themes emerged, namely choir singing as a way of living, music-related experiences, learning, growth, bridging, bonding and belonging, wellbeing, the latter including resilience, self-worth, positive affect, and singers’ spiritual experiences. Suggestions for further research include relationships of choral singing with full personhood and spiritual experiences. Certain physical aspects related to rehearsals, specifically regarding fatigue and back pain after standing through long rehearsals, could be investigated further. / MA (Musicology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The purpose of this collective case study was to explore the significance of choral singing for choristers and conductors participating in a national extra-curricular schools choral singing programme in South Africa. Understanding the experiences of choristers and conductors can contribute to principals, administrators of singing programmes, parents and conductors supporting choral singing activities. The method of inquiry was a qualitative collective case study with probing semi-structured open-ended questions to better understand the value and meaning of choral singing. Sampling comprised six purposefully chosen choirs, consisting of three primary and three secondary schools, portraying the unique socio-economic environment found in an agricultural rural town in central South Africa. Twenty-five participants were carefully selected, including 19 choristers and 6 conductors, 9 males and 16 females aged between 10 and 62 years. Eight themes emerged, namely choir singing as a way of living, music-related experiences, learning, growth, bridging, bonding and belonging, wellbeing, the latter including resilience, self-worth, positive affect, and singers’ spiritual experiences. Suggestions for further research include relationships of choral singing with full personhood and spiritual experiences. Certain physical aspects related to rehearsals, specifically regarding fatigue and back pain after standing through long rehearsals, could be investigated further. / MA (Musicology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Aufbauend auf den theoretischen Arbeiten von Bolton und Roland (1997) sowie Hirschman und Rothschild (1973) zeigt diese Arbeit empirische Evidenz dafür, dass die interregionale Ungleichheit einen negativ signifikanten Einfluss auf die Lebenszufriedenheit hat und dass dieser Effekt gegenüber der Verwendung unterschiedlicher Kontrollvariablen, Aggregationsebenen, Datensätze und Regressionsmethoden robust ist. Das Maß für die Lebenszufriedenheit entspricht in allen Teilen der Arbeit den Selbsteinschätzungen von Befragten zur aktuellen Lebenszufriedenheit beziehungsweise dem empfundenen Glück. Hier lehnt sich die Dissertation an die vorhandene empirische Literatur an. Auch die Kontrollvariablen und die Regressionsmethodik basieren auf der vorhandenen Literatur. Der bevölkerungsgewichtete Variationskoeffizient des regionalen BIP pro Kopf dient als Maß für die interregionale Ungleichheit und wird zum Beispiel in der Literatur verwendet, um den Einfluss der interregionalen Ungleichheit auf das Risiko interner Konflikte zu messen [zum Beispiel Lessmann (2013)].

The thesis looks firstly at creativity and the creative process, approaching the subject from a whole range of different viewpoints, such as the psychological, philosophical, biographical and anthropological angles. Following from this there is an exploration of the ways in which creativity way be awakened and unfolded. Special attention is given to the conditions and situations that are likely to encourage creative development and to the blocks and difficulties that inhibit its expression. Particular reference is made, on the one hand, to art education and to the art, leisure, and teaching student, and on the other hand, to art therapy and the psychiatric patient. The themes of the individual and the community are explored in a complementary way in the final two chapters. The thesis emphasizes the viewpoint of the student and the patient, but since these people do not exist in a vacuum, this involves looking also at the teacher, the therapist and society. With reference to the psychiatric field, other specific questions arise, for example: How may creative opportunities assist the healing process? What are the reciprocal influences of art and mental illness? Throughout the thesis the term 'art' is used in the visual sense, but references are made to creativity in other fields where parallel conclusions apply. The emphasis has been placed on the adult, but the subject of 'Creativity and the Teaching Student' involves some references to child art and 'Creativity and the Community' involves all ages.

Denna empiriska studie ämnade till att undersöka hur äldreomsorgen inom kommun NN (påhittat namn) arbetar förebyggande mot etnisk diskriminering samt upplevelser kring detta arbete. Studien hade en kvalitativ ansats med en psykologisk utgångspunkt där semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes på både arbetstagare och enhetschefer för att sammanställa en helhetsbild av arbetet. Författarna genomförde ett målinriktat urval av organisation och därefter ett bekvämlighetsurval av respondenter. Detta resulterade i åtta deltagare (n=8) varav fyra av dessa var enhetschefer och fyra var undersköterskor, med en fördelning på tre män och fem kvinnor. En konstruerad intervjumall användes i genomförandet av intervjuerna och för resultatet användes en tematisk analysmetod. Studiens resultat visade att det förekommer brister i det förebyggande arbetet mot etnisk diskriminering på kommun NN. Information och kommunikation visade sig vara de huvudsakliga bristande faktorerna i det förebyggande arbetet mot etnisk diskriminering. / This empirical study aimed to investigate how the care of the elderly in municipality NN (fictive name) works to prevent ethnic discrimination and the experiences with this work. The study was operationalized with a qualitative approach with a psychological point of view. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with both employees and unit managers to compile a holistic picture of the work. The authors conducted a targeted selection of organization and then a convenience sampling. This resulted in eight participants (n = 8) of whom four were unit managers and four were nurses, with a distribution of three men and five women. A constructed interview template was used when conducting the interviews, and for the result a thematic analysis method was used. The findings of the study showed that there is a lack of preventive efforts against ethnic discrimination in municipality NN. The inadequate factors in the preventive work against ethnic discrimination were shown to be information and communication.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common and undertreated mental health disorders in the US (World Health Organization, 2001). Utilizing an online, correlational design and a sample of approximately100 American employees with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), this study will examine the impact of perceived organizational support (POS) on the help seeking behaviors of employees with GAD. It is predicted that POS will be positively correlated with likelihood of treatment seeking among employees with GAD, and negatively correlated with treatment seeking delay. It is further predicted that perceived mental health stigma will mediate the relationship between POS and these treatment-seeking behaviors. This research may hold significant implications for individuals suffering from GAD, as well as organizations that employ these individuals, as it may shed light on critical correlates of help seeking, and how organizations can promote treatment-seeking behaviors.

This research examined whether microfinance-assisted developmental mechanisms can integrate ecological objectives alongside social and economic ones—thus promoting sustainability. The specific focus was to test the ability of microenterprises operated by community-entrepreneurs in supporting local ecosystem services. To this end, the research: elucidated the nature and dynamics of linkages between communities and the local ecosystems with the lens of coupled social-ecological systems, i.e. illustrated ecological modernization of microenterprises in a developing country context; tested how community-based enterprises transform upon application of green microfinance strategy; and then recognized how social learning is promoted through such community-based intervention mechanisms, e.g. microfinance. The research used case study and participatory approaches. The case study comprised two components: i) a green microfinance program, and ii) communities in a riparian, and a wetland ecosystem in Bangladesh engaged in entrepreneurship. The major tools that the study employed for data collections were: household surveys, participatory land -use surveys, semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, multi-stakeholder workshops, field observations, and document reviews. The research findings reveal that the green microfinance strategy, in the short and medium terms, catalyzes entrepreneurial and social innovations, and combine the embedded economic and social objectives of the classic microfinance with the new ecological objectives towards sustainability. The strategy applied by Microfinance Institution (MFI) and adopted by community enterprises transformed the ventures—helping them to go green and reducing greenhouse gas emission. Besides, the partnerships that occur between non-governmental organization (NGO) and community-based organization (CBO) in the process of implementing developmental programs—result social learning and innovations in the communities. The research review found grassroots developmental initiatives as an evolving phenomenon over time. With this view, and with its observation through this cross-sectional study, the research proposes a framework entitled ‘community-based developmental enterprise (CBDE)’. The framework proposes community level entrepreneurial ventures, associated NGO-MFIs, CBOs and other development partners to consider ecosystem services and wellbeing components in entrepreneurial design and actions. / October 2016