Citizenship - commitment to and participation in a political community - is the heart of constitutional democracy and a free society. Knowledge of the rights, responsibilities, and privileges are the electrical impulses that keep a steady beat. Without the participation of educated citizens, a democratic republic can not and does not function. This study analyzed the relationship between adolescent behavior and civic engagement. This task was accomplished by examining the amount of civic knowledge possessed by two groups within a population. The population examined, a high school in Flagler County, was composed of "at risk" students (those who had an Individualized Education Plan) and "regular" students (those that did not). The study uncovered the message that the amount of civic knowledge possessed by American youth was not as important as it was for them to be engaged in extracurricular activities. During the course of time, educators appear to have restricted their own ability to plan for and provide learning experiences that take in to consideration the physical characteristics; physical needs; patterns of growth and maturation; physiological changes; intellectual development; intellectual characteristics; learning preferences and styles; emotional development; personality development; and social development of each and every young adolescent attending school. When interesting, affordable activities are not made available, students become bored and get in to trouble during after school hours. Adolescent behaviors such as moral judgment and risk taking (or lack thereof) affect their decision to become civically involved.

The object of the research is civil participation of the population in the activities of local self-government bodies. The purpose of the work is to develop recommendations for enhancing civil participation of the population in the activities of local self-government bodies of the Nevyansk city district. The main methods of research were statistical methods, methods of theoretical analysis and resource planning, document analysis, questionnaire method, interviewing method, project management method. During execution of the qualification work was theoretical and legal aspects of participation of citizens in activities of local governments, the analysis of the participation of citizens in activities of local self-government in Nevyansk urban district based on which recommendations were developed to enhance social participation in the activities of local authorities. Because the recommendations are non-commercial in nature, no economic effect was predicted. As a result of the implementation of the recommended measures, a significant increase in the level of participation of the population in the activities of local self-government bodies of the Nevyansk city district is expected. / Объектом исследования гражданское участие населения в деятельности органов местного самоуправления. Цель выпускной квалификационной работы – разработка рекомендаций по активизации гражданского участия населения в деятельности органов местного самоуправления Невьянского городского округа. Основными методами проведения исследования стали статистические методы, методы теоретического анализа и ресурсного планирования, анализ документов, метод анкетирования, метод интервьюирования, метод проектного управления. В процессе выполнения выпускной квалификационной работы были исследованы теоретические и правовые аспекты участия граждан в деятельности органов местного самоуправления, выполнен анализ участия граждан в деятельности органов местного самоуправления в Невьянском городском округе, на основе чего разработаны рекомендации по активизации социального участия населения в деятельности органов местного самоуправления. В связи с тем, что рекомендации носят некоммерческий характер, прогнозирования экономического эффекта не производилось. В результате осуществления рекомендуемых мер ожидается существенное повышение уровня участия населения в деятельности органов местного самоуправления Невьянского городского округа.

Объектом исследования в диссертации является процесс родительства. Цель исследования – изучить процесс формирования и развития гражданской активности последующего поколения в ходе родительства предыдущего и разработать рекомендации, направленные на стимулирование этого процесса. Основными методами проведения исследования стали качественный и количественный анализ, а именно полуформализованное интервью, кейс-стади, анкетирование. В процессе исследований была систематизирована совокупность семейных факторов, влияющих на формирование и развитие гражданской активности в ходе родительства; проанализировано нормативно-правовое регулирование гражданской активности; разработана концепция межпоколенческих моделей формирования и развития гражданской активности у последующего поколения в ходе родительства предыдущих; разработана и реализована методика социологического исследования процессов формирования и развития гражданской активности. Результатом работы стала разработка ряда рекомендаций и мероприятий по стимулированию гражданской активности через институт семьи. Рекомендации адресованы органам государственного и муниципального управления, а также общественным организациям и некоммерческим объединениям. / The object of research in the dissertation is the process of parenting. The purpose of the research is to study the process of formation and development of civic activity of the next generation during the previous parenthood and to develop recommendations aimed at stimulating this process. The main methods of research were qualitative and quantitative analysis, namely semi-formal interviews, case studies, and questionnaires. A set of family factors that influence the formation and development of civic activity during parenthood was systematized; we analyze the legal regulation of civil activity; we developed the concept of intergenerational models of formation and development of civil activity in the next generation during parenthood of the previous ones; the methodology of sociological research of the processes of formation and development of civil activity is developed and implemented. The result of this work was the development of a number of recommendations and measures to stimulate civic activity through the family Institute. The recommendations are addressed to state and municipal authorities, as well as public organizations and non-profit associations.

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This study of the diffusion and evolution of the 311 innovation in the form of citizen service centers and as a technology cluster has been designed to help identify the catalysts for the spread of government-to-citizen (G2C) technology in local government in order to better position future G2C technology for a more rapid rate of adoption. The 311 non-emergency number was first established in 1996 and had spread to 80 local governments across the United States by 2012. This dissertation examines: what factors contributed to the adoption of 311 in American local governments over 100,000 in population; how did the innovation diffuse and evolve over time; and why did some governments' communications with citizens became more advanced than others? Given the problem of determining causality, a three-part research design was used to examine the topic including a historical narrative, logistic regression model, and case studies from Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and St. Louis. The narrative found that the political forces of the federal government, national organizations, and policy entrepreneurs (Karch, 2007) promoted the 311 innovation to solve different problems and that it evolved beyond its original intent. The logistic regression model found that there was a statistically significant relationship between 311 adoption and the variables of higher population, violent crime rate, and the mayor-council form of government. The case studies revealed that mayors played a strong role in establishing citizen service centers in all three cities while 311 adopter Pittsburgh and non-adopter St. Louis seemed to have more in common in their G2C evolution due to severe budget constraints. With little written about the 311 innovation in academic journals, practitioners and scholars will benefit from understanding the catalysts for the diffusion and evolution of the 311 in order to determine ways to increase the rate of adoption for future G2C communication innovations. / Ph. D.

This study focused on the teaching of Civic Education in Zambia. Specifically, the study examined pedagogical practices in relation to the teaching of Civic Education in schools. It is argued in this study that following right pedagogical practices in the teaching of Civic Education can lead to social change and transformation of society. As such, the purpose of the study was to ascertain therefore the extent to which Civic Education was enhancing or impeding social change and transformation in society. In order to realize the objectives of the study, an exploratory research design was used. The study found out that Civic Education in schools was not modelled on practices that can lead to social change and transformation of society; service learning approaches were rarely promoted in Civic Education lessons; teaching approaches in colleges and the university with respect to Civic Education are greatly lacking; teaching and learning materials in Civic Education were not readily available in schools; teachers of Civic Education were not grounded in the key theoretical and pedagogical perspectives underpinning Civic Education. The study therefore concludes that with correct pedagogical practices and approaches Civic Education can lead to social change and transformation of society. / Educational Foundations / D. Ed. (Socio-Education)

Denna studie har undersökt medialiseringen av nätverket Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg. Det har skett genom att identifiera sociala handlingar på en mesonivå för att hitta medieringsprocesser bland dem. Analysen på makronivå (i relation med samhället) har i sin tur visat vilken betydelse medieringsprocesserna har haft för Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg. Urvalet har skett på sociala medier och nätverkets webbsida. Analysen är baserad på ett ramverk av Alice Mattoni och Emiliano Treré (2014) kombinerat med medialiseringsteorier, mer specifikt, Winfried Schulzs (2004) fyra processer inom medialisering tillsammans med José van Dijck och Thomas Poells (2013) medielogik på sociala medier. En kvalitativ textanalys har använts för att kunna studera materialet. Analysen har genomförts på två nivåer, en mesonivå för att hitta de sociala handlingarna och deras medieringsprocesser, och på en makronivå, för att se medialiseringen inom Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg. Resultatet visade att Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg har en stark medialisering, men att de samtidigt är långt från helt medialiserade. Vissa sociala handlingar har inte medialiseras, men har fortfarande haft en sammanslagning (amalgamation) med andra medierade handlingar. Slutligen har studien också påvisat att sociala rörelser bör studeras ytterligare ur ett medieperspektiv, för att förstå funktioner och förändringar inom dem. / This study has examined the mediatization of the social movement Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg. By identifying social practices at a meso level within Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg, mediation processes have been found. The analysis at a macro level (in relation with the society) have then led to the understanding of the mediation processes. The material selection has been made on social media and on the website of Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg. The analysis is based on a conceptual framework by Alice Mattoni and Emiliano Treré (2014), combined with mediatization theories, and more specifically, the four processes of social change within mediatization by Winfried Schulz (2004) together with the media logics in social media by José van Dijck and Thomas Poell (2013). A qualitative text analysis was used in order to study the material. The analysis was performed at two levels, firstly, at a meso level to identify the social practices and the mediation processes, and secondly, at a macro level to find the mediatization of Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg. The results showed that Refugees Welcome to Gothenburg has a strong mediatization, but at the same time, not completely. Some social practices have not been mediated. The non-mediated social practices, however, have shown an amalgamation (joining) with the mediated social practices. Finally, the essay has also shown that social movements should be studied from a media perspective even further, to be able to understand functions and changes within them.