Sexual health is an important component to overall well-being and quality of life. Yet so much of sexual health research is focused solely on the negative consequences of sexuality, such as unintended pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Recently, the need for a positive, health promotion focused framework for research and understanding sexual health has received attention, including from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This transition of public health research and practice from a disease-based framework to a positive, health promotion framework necessitates exploring what factors are associated with positive sexuality and how it is experienced. This study contributed to fulfilling this need. This study focused on healthy sexuality in young college women. Specifically, this study sought to explore what young women find sexually satisfying in different types of sexual relationships (e.g., casual and committed partners). Next, this study identified variables that are important to the healthy sexuality of young college women, including sexual self-concept, communication with sexual partners, sexual satisfaction, and condom use. Lastly, this study aimed to understand the statistical relationship between these variables. This was a two-phase mixed methods study. Phase one consisted of thirty face to face individual interviews with college women aged 18-25 years, and took place in the fall semester of 2011 and the spring semester 2012 at a large public urban university located in the southeastern United States. Phase two took place in the spring semester 2012 and consisted of an online quantitative survey measuring sexual self-concept, communication with partners, sexual satisfaction and condom use. Analyses for the quantitative data included bivariate correlations and structural equation modeling. Qualitative results indicated that these young college women experienced sexual satisfaction with both committed and casual sexual partners, although they identified different reasons why each type of partnership was satisfying. Specifically, the emotional connection and comfort felt with committed relationship partners made sex satisfaction. With more casual or uncommitted partners, these women identified the benefits of maintaining their freedom and not having an obligation to another person. These young women shared their thoughts on how sex could be more satisfying for women and they indicated that communicating sexual desires and needs to partners as one of the most important factors. The quantitative portion of this study found that sexual self-concept was directly positively associated with communication with sexual partners (B=1.45, 95% CI=1.05 1.84, beta=.72), and directly positively related to sexual satisfaction (B=.49, 95% CI= .70, 2.35, beta=.49). Communication with partners was associated with lower discrepancies between wanted and experienced sexual activities (B=-3.96, 95% CI=-4.96, -2.95, beta=-.41). For respondents reporting on committed partnerships, communication with partners was directly related to higher sexual satisfaction (B=.74, 95% CI=.17, 1.32, beta=.43). For those reporting on casual sexual partners, communication was related to sexual satisfaction only through lower sexual activity discrepancy scores (B=.07, 95% CI=.01, .13, beta=.04). Overall the findings from this study suggest that communicating with casual sexual partners impacts sexual satisfaction partially through decreasing the discrepancies between wanted and experienced sexual activities. However, for committed partners, discrepancies were not significantly related to sexual satisfaction, directly or indirectly, although communication was directly associated with sexual satisfaction. This suggests that communication is impacting sexual satisfaction through a different mechanism for committed partners than casual partners. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the positive sexuality literature, which is currently still in its infancy. This study has implications for public health practice in the improvement of health promotion/sex education programs. This study identified sexual self-concept and communication between partners as important factors for achieving authentic sexual experiences. The implications of this study for public health research include the identification of variables important to understanding women's experience of positive sexuality. Specifically, this study found sexual self-concept to be important to communication and sexual satisfaction, and identified communication as important for both risk reduction (e.g., condom use) and sexual health promotion (e.g., sexual satisfaction).

<p>HIV poses considerable social and health challenges in South Africa, particularly among young people aged 15-24. Research indicates a strong link between risky sexual behaviour and alcohol and illicit drugs. In the Western Cape drug-related behaviours is a growing concern among young people because of relatively high prevalence rates of drug abuse, particularly methamphetamine. Previous South African studies have tended to focused on the link between substance use and risky sexual behaviour among commercial sex workers. The theoretical approach of this study is the information motivation behavioural skills model. Participants were selected using non-probability sampling of 279 first year students registered for Psychology I at the University of the Western Cape. This study employed a quantitative research approach using a survey design. Results: Forty-six percent of students do not believe that the use of illicit drugs has an impact on a person&rsquo / s sexual behavior. However, the findings also showed that only 45% of students believed that there was a difference between illicit drug users correctly using condoms when compared to non-users. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Conclusion: Prevention is our best and most effective means of decreasing risk-taking behaviours associated with HIV infection. Information is the first line of intervention that is necessary to reduce risk-taking behaviours / however prevention strategies and interventions of risk-taking behaviours should aim to increase motivation and help young people integrate information in a way that it is personally relatable. This is vital to address the inconsistencies between perceptions of risk and the realities of risk-taking behaviour.</p>

This thesis describes the casualisation of teachers' work (in Greater Durban) during the period of the democratic transition in South Africa. It provides evidence that contract teaching exists among men and women teachers employed in primary and secondary schools. These teachers are relegated to the secondary labour market with low income, poorer working conditions and lack of job security. It begins by adopting an electic theoretical approach, combining labour process and interactionist theories, to understand teachers' work. From this eclectic theoretical perspective, it is argued that contract teachers control and influence over their work is considerably eroded by the casualisation of the teaching labour process. However, unlike existing international studies, it is argued that casualisation of teaching in the Durban area serves not only as a deskilling process for most contract teachers but also as a re-skilling process for a few. Furthermore, this study shows that contract teaching has a gendered dimension. Not only because women teachers are mostly affected by casualisation of teaching but that it tends to relegate women to the primary school system where they teach young children. It is therefore argued that the casualisation of teaching extends women's mothering role into the classroom. The historical basis for casualisation of teaching, in South Africa, especially its gender dimension is a result of the 'Marriage Bar 'of 1912, the legacy of the Bantu Education system and the non-standardisation of teachers' qualifications until the 1980s, as well as the education policy flux during the period of political transition. Because contract teaching has existed over a long period, it has to be acknowledged as a sub-category of the national teaching corps. This means that the contribution of contract teachers towards the formation and transformation of the capacity to learn should not only be recognised and accordingly rewarded by education authorities but that casualisation of teaching should constitute an area for further academic research. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, 1998.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T16:15:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elisabeth Pecegueiro de Souza.pdf: 1549076 bytes, checksum: cc9220032afc787df1836b6cfc326671 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-12 / This research seeks to diagnose as it does the hiring and the elementary and high school casual teacher performance in public schools of São Paulo and if this form of recruitment and activity is the cause of the almost complete lack of teachers in public schools in São Paulo. The hypothesis is that the form of hiring this teacher puts him in a situation of lumpen-teacher , and that the low demand for casual teacher to perform this function relates to this fact, which is closely linked to non-recognition of importance of their action, the contradictory nature of their role and the conditions under which the exercise takes place, causing him to stop looking for this type of activity. The objective is to present, discuss and promote a reflection about it and contribute to studies on the subject to a possible analysis and perhaps the structure of a proper educational policy in this area. The author believes that the lack of studies on the subject justifies this research. From the literature review, it was noted that some research of authors addressed the issue, however from different points of view. The methodology included reading the basic and additional bibliography, documentary research (federal and the State of São Paulo s legislation), and, in addition, a case study and qualitative research. In a general historical context, priority was given to changes in labor relations and the teaching profession, the construction and deconstruction of rights acquired by the teacher, published in specific legislation, and, in the meantime, the figure of the casual teacher. The precarious situation of the teaching profession and its consequences was focused in a theoretical perspective, showing the picture of the deterioration of public teaching. The case study was conducted through systematic observation in a state school on the outskirts of the Great ABC Region (SP), as well as collecting statements or interviews from three casual teachers , three school principals, a manager of school organization and the São Paulo State Secretary of Education deputy secretary, in order to evaluate different looks. The study concludes with a discussion on the relationship between the elements of research. The results covered the issues regarding the proposed action and the hiring of the casual teacher, thus confirming the hypotheses for research. / Esta pesquisa busca diagnosticar como ocorre a contratação e a atuação do professor eventual do EF II e EM na rede pública de ensino do estado de São Paulo e se essa forma de contratação e de atuação é a causa da quase inexistência desse professor nessa rede. Parte da hipótese de que a forma de contratação coloca esse professor em situação de lúmpen-professorado e que a pouca procura pelo professor eventual para o desempenho dessa função relaciona-se a esse fato, intimamente ligado ao não reconhecimento da importância de sua atuação, ao caráter contraditório do seu papel e às condições em que se dá seu exercício, levando-o a deixar de procurar esse tipo de atividade. Objetiva-se apresentar, discutir e promover uma reflexão a respeito desses temas e contribuir com estudos sobre o assunto, para uma possível análise e quiçá estruturação de uma política educacional adequada nesse âmbito. A carência de estudos sobre o tema justifica esta pesquisa. A partir da revisão bibliográfica, levantaram-se autores que abordaram o assunto, porém, sob outros pontos de vista. A metodologia abrangeu a leitura da bibliografia básica e complementar, a pesquisa documental (legislação federal e do estado de São Paulo), paralelamente a um estudo de caso e pesquisa qualitativa. Numa contextualização histórica geral, priorizaram-se as mudanças nas relações de trabalho e profissão docente, a construção e desconstrução de direitos adquiridos pelo professor, publicados em legislação específica, e, nesse ínterim, a figura do professor eventual. Abordou-se, então, numa perspectiva teórica, a situação precária da profissão docente e suas consequências, mostrando-se o panorama da deterioração do magistério público. O estudo de caso foi realizado por meio de observação sistemática numa escola estadual da periferia do Grande ABC (SP), além da coleta de depoimentos e/ou entrevistas junto a três professores eventuais, três gestores, um gerente de organização escolar e do secretário adjunto da Secretaria da Educação do estado de São Paulo, no intuito de valorar recortes dos diversos olhares. O estudo encerra-se com a discussão sobre a articulação entre os elementos de pesquisa. Os resultados contemplaram as questões propostas quanto à atuação e à contratação do professor eventual, confirmando assim as hipóteses levantadas para a pesquisa.

Este estudo apresenta um levantamento de estruturas sintáticas causais e explicativas e sua correlação, respectivamente, com os modos narrativo e argumentativo de organização do texto, evidenciando a frequência de tais construções nos respectivos gêneros textuais: notícia, crônica, editorial e redação de vestibular. Para a coleta de dados, analisam-se 400 (quatrocentos) textos, 100 (cem) de cada gênero supramencionado. Há o confronto de conectivos que, na tradicional escolar, representam formas de expressão da causalidade (sentido restrito) e da explicação, repensando-se aspectos da descrição e do ensino de Língua Portuguesa, com vistas à proficiência discursiva na modalidade escrita. Aponta como principais resultados: a) a existência de três grupos de conectivos explicativos: os exclusivamente causais, os exclusivamente explicativos e os que exercem dupla função; b) a correlação entre os três modos verbais e a explicação, e, no caso da causalidade, uma correlação apenas com os modos verbais Indicativo e Subjuntivo; c) uma correspondência entre causalidade (no sentido estrito) e narração, e entre explicação e argumentação; d) a relação entre Factualidade e as estruturas causais, e entre o ato de fala chamado Justificativa e as orações explicativas, expressando não apenas ordens, pedidos, convites, opiniões e perguntas. Conclui que o estudo dos conectivos causais e explicativos deve estimular a reconstrução do conhecimento e a observância dos elementos verbais (disponíveis na língua) que são responsáveis pela construção dos sentidos. Além disso, que o ensino de Língua Portuguesa deve estar centrado em uma abordagem produtiva, mais funcional, não essencialmente classificatória e conteudista, de forma que a gramática, com a contribuição de estudos do discurso, promova o desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências de produção de textos. Não se propõe com isso que a tradição escolar seja descartada. Ao contrário, é mais uma reflexão, no caso, intradisciplinar, com vistas à construção de uma prática didático-pedagógica em língua materna / This study presents an assessment of causal and explicative syntactic structures and their respective correspondence with the narrative and argumentative modes of text organization, evidencing the frequency of such constructions in the following textual genres: news, chronicle, editorial and students writing in college entrance exams (vestibular). For data gathering, we have analyzed 400 (four hundred) texts, 100 (one hundred) of each aforementioned genres. A comparison is made with connectives which, according to traditional educational practices, represent ways of expressing cause (restrict sense) and explanation, and thus we rethink aspects of Portuguese language description and teaching, with the purpose of improving proficiency in written discourse. The principal findings are: a) the existence of three groups of explicative connectives: those which are solely causal, those which are solely explicative and those that comprise both functions; b) the correlation among the three verb moods and explanation, and, in the case of causality, the correlation only with Indicative and Subjunctive verb moods; c) the relationship between causality (in the strict sense) and narration, and between explanation and argumentation; d) the relationship between factuality and causal structures, and between the act of speech called Justification and explicative sentences, expressing not only orders, requests, invitations, opinions and questions. We conclude that the study of casual and explicative connectives should stimulate the reconstruction of knowledge and the analysis of verbal elements (available in the language), which are responsible for the construction of meanings. In addition, the teaching of Portuguese language should focus on a productive approach, more functional, not essentially based on classifications and contents, so that grammar, with the contribution of discourse studies, may foster the improvement of skills and competences in text writing. We do not propose, with this study, that traditional school teaching should be disregarded. On the contrary, this is only another approach, in this case, intradisciplinary, with the purpose of constructing a didactic-pedagogical practice for Portuguese language as mother tongue

Este estudo apresenta um levantamento de estruturas sintáticas causais e explicativas e sua correlação, respectivamente, com os modos narrativo e argumentativo de organização do texto, evidenciando a frequência de tais construções nos respectivos gêneros textuais: notícia, crônica, editorial e redação de vestibular. Para a coleta de dados, analisam-se 400 (quatrocentos) textos, 100 (cem) de cada gênero supramencionado. Há o confronto de conectivos que, na tradicional escolar, representam formas de expressão da causalidade (sentido restrito) e da explicação, repensando-se aspectos da descrição e do ensino de Língua Portuguesa, com vistas à proficiência discursiva na modalidade escrita. Aponta como principais resultados: a) a existência de três grupos de conectivos explicativos: os exclusivamente causais, os exclusivamente explicativos e os que exercem dupla função; b) a correlação entre os três modos verbais e a explicação, e, no caso da causalidade, uma correlação apenas com os modos verbais Indicativo e Subjuntivo; c) uma correspondência entre causalidade (no sentido estrito) e narração, e entre explicação e argumentação; d) a relação entre Factualidade e as estruturas causais, e entre o ato de fala chamado Justificativa e as orações explicativas, expressando não apenas ordens, pedidos, convites, opiniões e perguntas. Conclui que o estudo dos conectivos causais e explicativos deve estimular a reconstrução do conhecimento e a observância dos elementos verbais (disponíveis na língua) que são responsáveis pela construção dos sentidos. Além disso, que o ensino de Língua Portuguesa deve estar centrado em uma abordagem produtiva, mais funcional, não essencialmente classificatória e conteudista, de forma que a gramática, com a contribuição de estudos do discurso, promova o desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências de produção de textos. Não se propõe com isso que a tradição escolar seja descartada. Ao contrário, é mais uma reflexão, no caso, intradisciplinar, com vistas à construção de uma prática didático-pedagógica em língua materna / This study presents an assessment of causal and explicative syntactic structures and their respective correspondence with the narrative and argumentative modes of text organization, evidencing the frequency of such constructions in the following textual genres: news, chronicle, editorial and students writing in college entrance exams (vestibular). For data gathering, we have analyzed 400 (four hundred) texts, 100 (one hundred) of each aforementioned genres. A comparison is made with connectives which, according to traditional educational practices, represent ways of expressing cause (restrict sense) and explanation, and thus we rethink aspects of Portuguese language description and teaching, with the purpose of improving proficiency in written discourse. The principal findings are: a) the existence of three groups of explicative connectives: those which are solely causal, those which are solely explicative and those that comprise both functions; b) the correlation among the three verb moods and explanation, and, in the case of causality, the correlation only with Indicative and Subjunctive verb moods; c) the relationship between causality (in the strict sense) and narration, and between explanation and argumentation; d) the relationship between factuality and causal structures, and between the act of speech called Justification and explicative sentences, expressing not only orders, requests, invitations, opinions and questions. We conclude that the study of casual and explicative connectives should stimulate the reconstruction of knowledge and the analysis of verbal elements (available in the language), which are responsible for the construction of meanings. In addition, the teaching of Portuguese language should focus on a productive approach, more functional, not essentially based on classifications and contents, so that grammar, with the contribution of discourse studies, may foster the improvement of skills and competences in text writing. We do not propose, with this study, that traditional school teaching should be disregarded. On the contrary, this is only another approach, in this case, intradisciplinary, with the purpose of constructing a didactic-pedagogical practice for Portuguese language as mother tongue

Inledning: Göteborgs kommun implementerade år 2013 en intervention i form av gratis utdelning av broddar till kommunens äldre befolkning (65+), i ett försök att reducera antalet fall/halkolyckor på is/snö. Syftet med detta papper var att se över om interventionen hade haft en effekt på incidensen av fotgängarolyckor gällande fall/halkskador bland kommunens äldre befolkning. Metod: Pappret applicerade en kontrollerad före– och efterstudie för att se på skillnader mellan en föreperiod (2009–2012), då halkskydd ännu inte var utdelade, mot en efterperiod (2013–2016) då interventionen hade implementerats. Resultat: När interventionsgruppen (65+) jämfördes mot kontrollgruppen (16–64) hade antalet incidenser på is/snö minskat med 34.36 fall/halkolyckor per 100 000 efter utdelningen av broddar. Liknande trender kunde inte utläsas när analyser gjordes mot närliggande kontrollkommuner. Placebotest visade heller inte på någon signifikant effekt för Göteborg då placebokontroller utfördes för tidigare observerade perioder (2003–2010). Slutsats: Resultaten tyder på att antalet fall/halkincidenser på is/snö bland äldre invånare i Göteborgs kommun har sjunkit med 36 procent efter kommunens åtgärd. / Introduction: In 2013, Gothenburg municipality implemented an intervention in the form of free distribution of anti-slip devices to the municipality’s elderly population (65+) to reduce the amount of falls/slips on ice/snow. The aim of this paper was to evaluate if the intervention had an effect on the incidence of pedestrian accidents involving falls/slips among the municipality’s elderly. Methods: This paper applied a controlled before-and-after study to test for differences between a before period (2009-2012), when anti-slip devices were not yet distributed, to an after period (2013-2016) when the intervention had been implemented. Results: When the intervention group (age 65+ years) was compared to the control group (age 16–64 years), the number of incidences had significantly decreased by 34.36 falls/slips on ice/snow per 100 000 person-years after the distribution of anti-slip devices had been made. Similar trends were not seen when analysis were done to nearby control municipalities. A placebo test did not show any significant effect of Gothenburg as placebo controls were made on earlier observed periods (2003-2010). Conclusion: The results suggest that the number of fall/slip incidences on ice/snow among the municipality’s elderly residents has been reduced by 36 percent after the municipal intervention.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / As demandas intensas por informaÃÃo em nossos dias levam à constataÃÃo de que a informaÃÃo possui grande poder causal. Existe uma diversidade de significados do termo informaÃÃo e tambÃm diversas abordagens de pesquisa, isto pode ser explicado pelos diferentes modos de ocorrÃncia da informaÃÃo ou mesmo pela complexidade do termo. à parte dessas tensÃes, considera-se em geral, que a informaÃÃo à um bem precioso, uma commodity porque constitui-se num ingrediente fundamental para a geraÃÃo do conhecimento. Mas, de fato, como a informaÃÃo causa algo, como ela gera conhecimento? Esta pesquisa propÃe-se a responder tal questÃo a partir da obra de Fred Dretske (1981). O filÃsofo propÃs uma semÃntica informacional na qual procura, dentre outras coisas, explicitar como essa entidade imaterial, vinculada à percepÃÃo, pode gerar conhecimento. Tomando como centrais algumas noÃÃes da teoria matemÃtica da comunicaÃÃo, Dretske considera que a informaÃÃo està envolta numa rede de relaÃÃes causais e regularidades nÃmicas que propiciam a um dado receptor, quando capaz de interpretar devidamente uma mensagem recebida, a garantia de acesso a um estado de conhecimento de 100% dos eventos na fonte. Explicitado o percurso da argumentaÃÃo dretskiana, argumenta-se que, mesmo diante de importantes crÃticas, a exigÃncia probabilÃstica de Dretske poderia, uma vez revisada, auxiliar na compreensÃo da noÃÃo de conhecimento comumente utilizada pelas pessoas nos seus diferentes mundos. / The intensive demand for information nowadays confirms that information has an huge casual power. Thereâs a diversity of meaning of information and research approach, which can be explained by the different modes of occurrence of information, or even by the complexity of the term. Beyond these tensions, information is generally a valuable resource, a commodity, because itâs an essential element for generation of knowledge. But how information influences the human phenomena? How information contributes for generation of knowledge? This research aims to answer this question based on the work of Fred Dretske (1981). This philosopher proposed an informational semantic that explain how the immaterial side of information, which is related to perception, influences the generation of knowledge. Considering some aspects of mathematical theory of communication, Dretske presents information surrounded by a network of casual relations and nomic regularities that allows the receptor (a person able to understand properly a received message) to have full access to the events of an information resource. This study concludes that the Dretskian notion of information, despite the criticism for its probabilistic nature, once review, offers important insights that help us to understand how knowledge is created in different worlds of information.

Ett område inom digital design som börjat få mer uppmärksamhet är upplevelsedesign. Godanvändbar design är viktigt men människor har ett växande behov av att bli underhållna ochengagerade genom digitala medier. Det har blivit mer relevant på senare tid då datatekniskaprodukter och tjänster blir allt vanligare i samhället. Framförallt är det i hem- och fritidsmiljöersom det blivit vanligare. En naturlig följd av utvecklingen är att datorspelsbranschen växer. Den ärnu i samma storlek som filmindustrin och det har blivit lika vanligt att spela datorspel som att tittapå teve. Forskning om datorspel och spelupplevelse är därför intressant i närliggandeämnesområden såsom upplevelsedesign och interaktionsdesign. Det kan bland annat tillföra utökadkunskap om att på bättre sätt skapa engagemang och motivera handling.Något intressant med datorspel är fokuset på allt högre grafikkvalitet. Vi kommer kanske inom ensnart framtid ha mycket svårt att skilja mellan grafik och verklighet. Frågan är hur denna utvecklingska betraktas? En del menar att det är negativt eftersom att andra spelelement får mindre fokus ochprioritet. Ett sådant spelelement är spelatmosfär. Spelatmosfär är ett spelelement som på senare tidblivit allt mer universell och neutral för att passa en bredare spelardemografi.För att bedöma utvecklingen i datorspelsbranschen undersöktes hur spelupplevelsen påverkas avgrafikkvalitet och spelatmosfär. Resultaten tyder på att utvecklingen i datorspelsbranschen kanbedömas som förnuftig och logisk. Samtidigt tyder resultaten på att det finns alternativa vägar föratt skapa lika god spelupplevelse. Ett av dessa alternativ illustreras i slutet av arbetet i form av ett designförslag.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Alcohol remains the most commonly abused substance in South Africa and several studies have shown associations between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviours, which pose a risk of HIV infection. Research indicates that the age group of 15-24 years is a high risk group for HIV infection. This study aimed at examining the perceptions of alcohol as a risk factor to HIV infection amoungst a sample of university students.Specifically, this study tested the hypotheses that most students perceive that those who consume alcohol were more likely to engage in unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners, casual sex and transactional sex. The Information Motivation Behavioural(IMB) skills model provided the theoretical framework for the study. Using a quantitative research design, a survey questionnaire was used to collect the data. The sample consisted of 240 first year psychology students (192 females, 48 males). Data analyses indicated support for the hypotheses that alcohol consumption was perceived as high risk for unprotected sex, casual sex and sex with multiple partners. However, the data showed no support for the hypothesis of alcohol increasing the risk of transactional sex. The data also indicated that non-drinkers were more likely to perceive alcohol as a risk factor than drinkers. The recognition by students of alcohol as a risk factor for HIV infection provides an opportunity for raising awareness about safer sex practices at institutions of higher learning in South Africa.