This study sought to determine the contributions of college students' perceptions of family of origin health and self-esteem to their perceptions of the divorced single mother. It was hypothesized that individuals who hold more positive views of their family of origin health will also view themselves and, consequently, the divorced single mother more positively. Participants were 170 college students, 113 of whom lived only with their biological parents, and 57 of whom lived at sometime in their lives with a divorced single mother. Four instruments were used to collect the data, including the Family of Origin Health Scale (Hovestadt et al., 1985), the Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), the Perception of Divorced Mother Scale (Ganong & Coleman, 1983), and a demographic questionnaire. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were used in data analyses. Generally, results indicated that family type made no major impact on participants' perceptions of the divorced single mother. Among participants in the biological parent group and the divorced single mother group, family of origin health significantly predicted more positive perceptions of the divorced single mother. In this analysis, the regression model for the biological parent group was significant, while for the divorced single mother group it was not. Self-esteem was not found to contribute significantly to participants' perceptions of the divorced single mother, and thus did not mediate the relationship between family of origin health and perceptions of the divorced single mother. Finally, among the biological parent group, amount of interaction with single parent families headed by a divorced single mother significantly predicted more positive perceptions of the divorced single mother. Among the divorced single mother group, however, amount of time lived in a single parent family headed by a divorced mother did not significantly predict their perceptions of the divorced single mother. / Graduation date: 1995

This study was conducted to determine if there were possible areas of student individuality and uniqueness that might contribute to successful completion of distance education courses as compared to successful completion of traditional classroom courses. Five areas of possible differences were identified and studied: 1) differences between the number of successful completers, 2) differences in individual student learning styles, 3) differences in individual student self-directed learning readiness, 4) differences in individual student motivation, and 5) differences in individual student personal profiles. The data collected in this research project came from 132 students enrolled in Psychology 111, a distance education course and traditional classroom course at University of Alaska Anchorage. Three survey instruments were used to collect the data as follows: Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI), Guglielmino's Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS), and a General Questionnaire. In addition, students' final class standings (Pass/Fail) were used to determine completion status. Findings of the study indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between the number of successful completers of distance education courses as compared to successful completers for traditional classroom courses. Findings also indicated that areas of learning style and learning readiness had no effect on the successful completion rates of students enrolled in distance education courses as compared to students enrolled in traditional classroom courses. Motivational differences appeared between the two groups studied in two areas, "Retraining" and "Fits my work schedule." The study findings also suggested that there were statistically significant differences in distance education students' personal profiles as compared to traditional classroom students' personal profiles in such areas as gender, full-time student status, marital status, and number of dependents. / Graduation date: 1994

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes about gay marriage. The main research question was: Do traditional attitudes toward familial gender roles and conservative, moderate, and liberal views about religiosity impact attitudes about gay marriage? I used data from the 2006 General Social Survey (GSS) of 1,977 adults living in the United States. Results of this study found people with traditional attitudes toward familial gender roles have more negative attitudes about gay marriage. Also, people with strong religious affiliation and more frequent attendance at religious services have more negative attitudes about gay marriage. Furthermore, people who were very religious and belonged to specific religious affiliations have more negative attitudes about gay marriage. Conversely, this study found people who were slightly religious, not religious, and very spiritual have more positive attitudes about gay marriage and people who belonged to specific religious affiliations have more positive attitudes about gay marriage. / Dr. Melissa Swauger Dr. Diane Shinberg Dr. Kay Snyder

I undersökningen om ungdomars attityder mot homosexuella ochheterosexuella brottsoffer utfördes ett experiment där 151 deltagare fick svara på en enkät. Det fanns fyra olika versioner av enkäter där brottsoffret varierade mellan hetero- och homosexuell man men även orten där brottet tog plats varierade mellan liten ort och stor stad. Resultatet visade ingen skillnad i ungdomars empati beroende på brottsoffrets sexuella läggning, dock visade det sig att unga kvinnor har något mer empati än unga män. Resultatet gav inte heller någon skillnad i ungdomars empati beroende på ort. Dock upptäcktes en interaktionseffekt i empati mellan ort och sexualitet som visade att om brottet tog plats i Stockholm kände deltagarna mer empati för en homosexuell man än en heterosexuell man samt att empatin blev motsatt i en liten ort. Resultaten visade ingen signifikant skillnad på empati mellan deltagarnas etnicitet och brottsoffrets sexualitet. Resultaten kan tillämpas som diskussionsmaterial för exempelvis gymnasieskolor.

Vid bedömningar som görs i rättsliga sammanhang kan människor påverkas av faktorer som är juridiskt irrelevanta. Dessa irrelevanta faktorer grundar sig ofta i negativa attityder och fördomar. Vid våldtäkter kan egenskaper hos offret påverka bedömningen av offrets och förövarens ansvar och offret ses som medansvarig till att ha blivit våldtagen. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur människors bedömningar av en våldtäkt påverkas av ett våldtäktsoffers alkoholpåverkan och klädsel. Åttio beteendevetenskapliga studenter läste ett våldtäktsfall där offrets alkoholintag och klädsel vid brottstillfället varierades. Resultatet indikerar tendenser till skuldbeläggande av offret och förmildrande inställningar till förövaren om offret druckit alkohol och/ eller varit utmanande klädd.

The aim of this study is to find out which variety of English pupils in secondary school use, British or American English, if they are aware of their usage, and if there are differences between girls and boys. British English is normally the variety taught in school, but influences of American English due to exposure of different media are strong and have consequently a great impact on Swedish pupils. This study took place in a secondary school, and 33 pupils in grade 9 participated in the investigation. They filled in a questionnaire which investigated vocabulary, attitudes and awareness, and read a list of words out loud. The study showed that the pupils tend to use American English more than British English, in both vocabulary and pronunciation, and that all of the pupils mixed American and British features. A majority of the pupils had a higher preference for American English, particularly the boys, who also seemed to be more aware of which variety they use, and in general more aware of the differences between British and American English.

There is a shortage of organs available for donation worldwide. There have been several campaigns to try to increase the numbers of registrered donors. The topic has been brought to the forefront but more work is still needed to distribute information to the public. The aim of this literature review was to examine what influences people in their decision to donate their organs or not, and what role nurses play in providing the most current information available. The study found that there was several different reasons given for not donating their organs. A great number of people were convinced that their religion was against organ donation. The level of knowledge about organ donation and ethnoculural background were major factors when making the decision to register as an organ donar. Only through making more information available in different languages, educating healthcare workers about culural and religions differences can the numbers of registrated donors increase.

Introduktion: Patienter med HIV/AIDS upplever diskriminering och stigmatisering i sjukvården. Att mötas av diskriminering och stigmatisering påverkar livet för de smittade i form av att de upplever social isolering, depression och post traumatisk stress. Stigmatisering och attityder har ett samband. Sjuksköterskans attityder kan påverka patienten negativt i form av diskriminering och stigmatisering. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att beskriva sjuksköterskors attityder till patienter med HIV/AIDS och även att beskriva vad som orsakar dessa attityder. Metod: En deskriptiv litteraturstudie har genomförts. Artiklar söktes i databasen Cinahl. Resultatet baserar sig på 13 vetenskapliga artiklar som har analyserats genom att söka efter mönster. Huvudresultat: Sjuksköterskan har undvikande, hänvisande och dömande attityder till patienter med HIV/AIDS. Dessa attityder leder till kränkande åsikter och kränkande handlingar. Attityderna orsakas av bristande kunskap om HIV/AIDS samt otillräcklig erfarenhet av att vårda patienter med HIV/AIDS. Attityderna orsakas vidare av rädsla för att bli smittad samt av rädsla för samhällets åsikter om sjukdomen.  Sjuksköterskans attityder orsakas även av patientgruppen som både anses krävande och givande. Slutsats: Fördjupad kunskap gällande ICN:s etiska kod är nödvändig. Vidare är det viktigt att omvårdnaden grundar sig på en värdegrund. Behovet av fortsatt forskning är angeläget för att bedriva god omvårdnad av patienter med HIV/AIDS. / Introduction: Patients with HIV / AIDS experience discrimination and stigmatization in health care. To be faced with discrimination and stigma affects the lives of those infected as they experience social isolation, depression and post-traumatic stress. Stigma and attitudes are related. Nurses' attitudes can affect the patient negatively through discrimination and stigmatization. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe nurses' attitudes towards patients with HIV / AIDS and also to describe what causes these attitudes. Method: A descriptive study was carried out. Articles were searched in the Cinahl database. The result is based on 13 scientific articles that have been analyzed by searching for patterns. Main results: The nurse has avoiding, referring and judgmental attitudes towards patients with HIV / AIDS. These attitudes lead to offensive opinions and offensive acts. These attitudes are caused by lack of knowledge about HIV / AIDS and insufficient experience in the care of patients with HIV / AIDS. Attitudes are futher caused by the fear of being infected, and by the fear of society´s opinion of the disease. The nurses' attitudes are also caused by the patient group, because they are considered both challenging and rewarding. Conclusion: Better understanding regarding the ICN:s code of ethics is necessary. Furthermore, it is important that care is based on a underlying philosophy of nursing. The need for continued research is necessary to provide good care of patients with HIV / AIDS.

The main purpose of a logotype is to harmonize with a company’s business concept and culture. This study is based on the receiver’s attitudes about three different logotypes - Volvo, Telia and Mcdonald's. It informs the reader about the importance of a logotype as a mean of communication and if the perceptions of the logotype harmonize with the profile of the company. The study also discusses whether the visual aspects of a logotype make any difference in this process. This is a qualitative study that has been conducted through interviews and the purpose is to collect and analyze the receiver’s attitudes regarding the logotypes. The theories of this study are based on visual communication, interpretation and semiotics. Our study shows that the receiver’s attitudes against the logotypes are mostly negative, mainly because the receiver’s were unable to understand the meaning of the logotypes. This study also shows that the receiver’s interpretation of the logotypes depended on a specific context and prejudice.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is primarily identified as a metropolitan disease. However, it has suggested that the Centers for Disease Control may underestimate the prevalence of AIDS in the population of higher socioeconomic status, overstate the relative prevalence of AIDS in the minorities, and understate the prevalence of the disease in the Midwest (Laumann, Gagnon, Michaels, Michael, & Coleman, 1989). The problem addressed in this study was to determine whether groups of urban and rural perioperative registered nurses differ in their attitudes of tolerance toward AIDS patients. The attitudes of rural and urban perioperative nurses were examined in a comparative descriptive design. It is important to identify nurses' attitudes toward AIDS patients because nurses must interact with AIDS patients on an increasing basis.Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) Theory of Cognitive Emotion was used for the framework. A convenience sample of 77 perioperative registered nurses was obtained for the study. Five midwestern hospitals were used to collect the data. Two urban hospitals and three rural hospitals were used as collection sites. The AIDS Attitudes Scale (AAS) was used as the tool to collect the data (Shrum, Turner, and Bruce, 1989). The AAS consists of a fifty-four item questionnaire designed to measure attitudinal tolerance towards the AIDS patient. Validity and reliability of the tool were established with a resulting reliability score of .94.Findings revealed significant differences among urban and rural perioperative registered nurses in attitudes toward AIDS patients (p=.0387), with urban perioperative nurses being more tolerant of AIDS patients. Item-by-item analysis indicated that although urban perioperative nurses were more tolerant, an urban perioperative nurse would be more uncomfortable around a patient with AIDS (p=.0082). However, more rural perioperative nurses indicated that they would move out if a roommate had AIDS (p=.0030). Rural perioperative nurses indicated more often that no one deserved to have a disease like AIDS (p=.0057). Demographic profiles of registered perioperative nurses demonstrated similar backgrounds in relation to age, educational level, and gender.Conclusions of this study indicated urban perioperative registered nurses hold more tolerant attitudes toward HIV/AIDS patients than do rural perioperative registered nurses. / School of Nursing