Managers in social care are being relied upon to lead and implement substantial change within the sector. Yet the prevailing view is that the pressure being put on managers by managerialism and the increase in the business aspects of their role is in conflict with social care managers’ values, causing concern and challenging managers’ identity. Additionally, managers in social care are presented as being part of the same homogenous group as social work managers, a potential misrepresentation, which again has consequences for how managers identify with their role. This study aimed to explore and explain how social care managers are experiencing their manager identity and how they categorise themselves from a group perspective. This research was undertaken using a critical realist philosophical approach. The key theoretical framework used is social identity theory. The study findings have achieved the overall aim of the research, establishing that social care managers appear not to be experiencing any conflict in their identities, that managerialism is accepted by managers and seen to be necessary, and that managers’ values, formed in childhood, are a key aspect of how they undertake their managerial role. In addition, social care managers are not the same as social work managers, their social identity is a synthesis of the multiple groups they are members of with the dominant group being social care, because of this they cannot be viewed as being within the same homogenous group. Neither is the social care manager role distinctive from manager roles in other sectors, however how they undertake the role is. The significance of the study is the contribution to both the existing social care literature and the literature on social identity theory.

This paper uses a quantitative content analysis informed by a critical realist framework to study the patterns of international political economy discourse prevalence within research articles concerning free trade. Once categorized, there are observable differences in the extent to which articles in the different categories address other discourses. Analyzing these patterns using concepts from discourse theory, we suggest that the liberal discourse constitutes a regime of truth to which the other discourses must relate. It is also found that articles published in higher ranking journals are less likely to address other discourses. We argue that this could be explained as being an effect of the larger readership of those journals.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-07-19T14:10:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 barbarahungriadiaspires.pdf: 2406352 bytes, checksum: 248d896e56127c32fb7b031109145a7e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-07-23T15:44:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 barbarahungriadiaspires.pdf: 2406352 bytes, checksum: 248d896e56127c32fb7b031109145a7e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-07-23T15:45:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 barbarahungriadiaspires.pdf: 2406352 bytes, checksum: 248d896e56127c32fb7b031109145a7e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-23T15:45:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 barbarahungriadiaspires.pdf: 2406352 bytes, checksum: 248d896e56127c32fb7b031109145a7e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-04 / Este trabalho apresenta os resultados da pesquisa intitulada “Práticas Pedagógicas Montessorianas: potencialidades e desafios”. Tem como objetivo geral mapear e analisar as potencialidades e desafios das práticas pedagógicas montessorianas e apresenta a seguinte questão de investigação: quais são as principais potencialidades e os desafios do Método Montessori e das práticas desenvolvidas nesse contexto? Priorizou-se o aprofundamento de estudos teóricos e empíricos relacionados à metodologia montessoriana e às práticas pedagógicas dela decorrentes. Além da pesquisa bibliográfica e revisão de literatura, foi realizada a aplicação de um questionário para os participantes do IX Encontro de Educadores Montessorianos, ocorrido em setembro de 2016, promovido pela Organização Montessori do Brasil. No total, fizeram parte do estudo 76 profissionais da educação, sendo estes professores, assistentes de classe, estagiários, diretores, coordenadores, gestores e outros profissionais com função no âmbito escolar. Como referenciais teórico-metodológicos, foram explanadas as contribuições de Maria Montessori, José Carlos Libâneo, Demerval Saviani, Bernadete Gatti, Herman Röhrs, Maria da Assunção Calderano, Roy Bhaskar, dentre outros. As contribuições desse último autor, no campo da filosofia da ciência, constituíram fundamentos centrais do trabalho e favoreceram o esclarecimento de concepções que sustentam esta investigação e o processo de elaboração dos instrumentos e de análise de dados. Através de alguns elementos da prática destacados pelos participantes da pesquisa, compreende-se suas concepções e suas interpretações sobre as potencialidades e os desafios das práticas pedagógicas montessorianas. Os resultados apontaram que o conhecimento das famílias acerca do método montessoriano, a infraestrutura da instituição, assim como a formação continuada e o envolvimento do docente são citados como os principais fatores que interferem favoravelmente nas práticas pedagógicas montessorianas. Dentre os fatores que interferem desfavoravelmente nestas práticas são citados a importância do respeito e aplicação aos princípios do método, a interferência da legislação e da burocracia no cotidiano escolar, como também a identificação do professor e o esclarecimento dos fundamentos, materiais, princípios e práticas montessorianas nas universidades e para a sociedade. A pesquisa evidencia a necessidade de haver, na formação docente, um estudo aprofundado dos princípios do Método Montessori, tendo por base uma relação mais estreita entre a teoria e a implementação das práticas pedagógicas que derivam do método em tela. A importância da estrutura escolar, da organização do trabalho docente montessoriano e da credibilidade e aplicabilidade do Método Montessori foram vistas como indicadores da possibilidade de superação dos desafios destacados nas experiências da prática pedagógica analisada. / This paper presents the results of the research entitled "Montessorian Pedagogical Practices: Potentials and Challenges". The main objective is to map and analyze the potentialities and challenges of Montessori pedagogical practices and the following research question: what are the main potentialities and challenges of the Montessori Method and practices developed in this context? The priority was given to theoretical and empirical studies related to the Montessori methodology and the pedagogical practices resulting from it. In addition to bibliographical research and literature review, a questionnaire was answered by the participants of the 9th Montessori Educators Meeting, held in September 2016, promoted by the Montessori Organization of Brazil. 76 professionals from the education sector participated in the study. The sample was composed by teachers, class assistants, trainees, directors, coordinators, managers and other school professionals. As a theoretical-methodological reference, the contributions of Maria Montessori, José Carlos Libâneo, Demerval Saviani, Bernadette Gatti, Herman Röhrs, Maria da Assunção Calderano, Roy Bhaskar, among others, were explained. The contributions from the last author, in the field of the philosophy of science, constituted the central foundations of the work and provided enlightenments of the conceptions that sustain this investigation and the process of elaboration of the instruments and data analysis. Through some elements of the practice highlighted by the participants of the research, their conceptions and their interpretations about the potentialities and challenges of Montessori teaching practices were understood. The results show that families' knowledge about the Montessori method, institution's infrastructure, as well as continued formation and teacher’s involvement were cited as main factors that favorably interfere in the Montessori pedagogical practices. Among the factors that interfere unfavorably in these practices are the importance of respect and application to the principles of the method, the interference of legislation and departmentalism in school daily life, as well as teacher identification and clarification of the fundamentals of the Montessori method, its materials, principles and practices in universities and for the society. The research highlights the need for an in depth study of the principles of the Montessori Method, based on a closer relationship between the theory and the implementation of pedagogical practices that derive from the on screen method. The importance of the school structure, the organization of Montessori teaching work and the credibility and applicability of the Montessori Method were seen as indicators of the possibility of overcoming the challenges highlighted in the experiences of the pedagogical practice analyzed.

Orientador: David Dequech Filho / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Economia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T00:45:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fucidji_JoseRicardo_D.pdf: 1443224 bytes, checksum: 9559a750c120f0118f98de208ea38a74 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O objetivo desta tese é expor, avaliar e aplicar a abordagem metodológica do realismo crítico para a ciência econômica. O realismo crítico em economia propõe-se como uma alternativa os pólos do falseacionismo popperiano e ao relativismo das abordagens construtivistas. O ponto a ressaltar é que o realismo crítico dá precedência às questões ontológicas (a natureza do que existe na realidade econômica e das práticas científicas) sobre as questões epistemológicas (o status das diversas teorias como veículos do conhecimento aceito). Ao defender que o método de investigação ou inferência deve ser adequado ao objeto de análise (que neste caso é algum item da realidade sócio-econômica), o realismo crítico aponta diversas razões para o insucesso das teorias econômicas ortodoxas como instrumentos de previsão e controle dessa realidade. Ao supor uma realidade social que é complexa, diferenciada, estruturada, sistêmica, aberta, sempre em mudança e radicalmente incerta, além de internamente relacionada, essa abordagem coloca-se também como um fundamento metodológico para as correntes heterodoxas em economia. Após discutir o conteúdo dessa abordagem, bem como a concepção ontológica particular sobre a qual é sustentada, o trabalho contrapõe a ela diversas outras abordagens em metodologia econômica, destacando-lhes a ontologia (ainda que implícita). Seguem-se então duas aplicações da abordagem realista crítica em economia. Na primeira, procura-se indicar as limitações e possibilidades do darwinismo generalizado, do realismo crítico, da abordagem da auto-organização em sistemas complexos e da chamada hipótese de continuidade como metodologias alternativas (mas de certa forma compatíveis) para a economia evolucionista. Na segunda, apresentam-se algumas considerações metodológicas a respeito da recente crise financeira, com destaque para o papel dos modelos formais em teorias econômicas / Abstract: The purpose of this work is to explain, evaluate and apply the critical realist approach to economics. Critical realism in economics stands as an alternative to both Popperian falsificationism and the relativism of constructivist approaches. It is worth noting that critical realism gives primacy to ontological issues (the nature of which exists in socio-economic reality and scientific activities) over epistemological ones (the status of competing theories as vehicles of accepted knowledge). By defending that research methods and inferences must be tailored to the nature of the subject-matter - that in this case is some item of socio-economic reality - and not the other way round, critical realism points out several failures in orthodox economics project of predicting and controlling that reality. Supposing a social reality that is complex, differentiated, structured, systemic, open, ever-changing, and radically uncertain, besides internally related, this approach can provide methodological foundations for heterodox schools of thought in economics. After discussing the content of critical realism, as well as its particular ontological underpinnings, this work compares several alternative methodological approaches to it by underlining their (implicit or explicit) ontology. Two attempts of applying critical realism to methodological debates in economics follow. In the first one I point out limits to and possibilities of generalized Darwinism, auto-organized complex systems, continuity hypothesis and critical realism as alternative (but in some ways compatible) methodologies for evolutionary economics. In the second one, I put forward some methodological considerations on the recent financial crisis, focusing on the role of formal models in economic theories / Doutorado / Teoria Economica / Doutor em Ciências Econômicas

In a recent article Ulrich Brand has discussed how best to perform policy analysis. I reflect upon the paper as an interdisciplinary researcher experienced in public policy problems and their analysis with a particular interest in the relationship between social, economic and environmental problems. At the centre of the paper is the contrast between two existing methodologies prevalent in political science and related disciplines. One is the rationalist approach, which takes on the character of a natural science, that believes in a fully knowable objective reality which can be observed by an independent investigator. The other is a strong social constructivist position called interpretative policy analysis (IPA), where knowledge and meaning become so intertwined as to make independence of the observer from the observed impossible and all knowledge highly subjective. Brand then offers his model as a way forward, but one that he closely associates with the latter. My contention is that policy analysis, and any way forward, needs to provide more of a transformative combination of elements from both approaches. Indeed I believe this is actually what Brand is doing.

My thesis argues that the New Right (NR) sought to manipulate state education as a mechanism of both social transformation and social control in the UK between 1979 and 1992. This is investigated by employing a 'critical realist' perspective which is located within a wider 'neo-Marxist' conceptual frame. The links between the NR and the Radical Right (RR) Conservative governments during this period are investigated through an analysis of the origins, intentions and ascendancy of NR ideology. It is suggested that the NIRIRR's political intent was a 'hegemonic project' to shift underlying moral values from 'social democracy' to the 'social market'. This depended on the successful transmission, through education, of a definition of 'citizenship' grounded in competitive, 'selfish individualism', with the inequalities of the 'social market' accepted as 'common-sense'. My data reveal how the NRJRR conjoined symbolic and material rules and resources to draw power and authority to 'the centre' on the grounds that there was a crisis in national stability and security. Education is identified as a central mechanism in the NR!RR's 'hegemonic project'. It is shown how the RR gained control of the form, content and method of educational provision through a series of initiatives which gradually altered the structure of education and shifted provision progressively from the periphery to the centre, centralising control over curriculum and resources while devolving responsibility and accountability to schools. The argument central to my thesis is that the NR/RR sought to use physical education as a pivotal component of its 'hegemonic project'. This is revealed most clearly in the privileging of the definition of physical education as 'sport and games' in NRJRR discourse. This discourse sought to imbue pupils with values of competition, tradition, reward, meritocracy and individual responsibility: the moral values central to the 'social market'. My data outline how the NRLRR endeavoured to 'control' the 'form', 'structure', 'content' and 'methods' of physical education provision in state schools by delineating the discursive framework and text of the national curriculum physical education (NCPE), and raise critical issues relating to the relationship between policy, power and autonomy within the education system.

The aim of this study was to generate a substantive grounded theory to explain a variety of young people's experiences of football within and external to FA Charter Standard Clubs and Schools. A modified grounded theory methodology (Strauss and Corbin, 1998; Charmaz, 2000) was selected following an ethical commitment to 'listen to young people's voices'. This methodology was underpinned by critical realist ontological assumptions (Sayer, 2000) and reformulated according to Popperian epistemology (Popper, 1972; 1981). Ten mini-ethnographies were conducted in football clubs and schools in England over a period of 12 months. Data were generated through focussed group interviews with young people (aged 8-18), and participant observation captured in field notes. Over three increasingly deductive iterations (or 'vintages') of data collection and analysis, a substantive theory of socialisation processes in youth football was created. This abstract theory hypothesised that young people's experiences may be conceptualised as partially individualised responses to external influences, expressed as desires and concerns that may act reciprocally on the social context. More specific hypotheses (or models) were formulated and 'mapped over' the abstract theory. The relationship between stress, enjoyment and learning in youth football is explored in the first of these models, focussing specifically on the role of significant adults. Coach behaviour and its impact on the youth football environment is the subject of the second model, which describes an 'ideal type' football programme. Female experiences are the subject of the third section of the discussion which focuses on 'first contact' with football (particularly male domination in mixed football) and subsequent socialisation experiences. Here it is conjectured that the development of friendships and identity specific to football may increase the propensity to participate. The final model conceptualises socialisation processes for young players from black and minority ethnic communities. The problems of 'culture barriers' and institutional racism are explored before considering the role youth football might play in the wider 'integration debate'. Finally, some recommendations for policy change and for future research are offered. Here it is suggested that policy changes are monitored and evaluated with critical sociological studies focussing on young people's experiences of coaching and parenting and hegemonic power relations in female and multicultural football respectively.

AFRIKAANS: Magersfontein, o Magersfontein! vertoon veral twee fasette van die realisme, naamlik kritiese realisme en sosiale realisme, met satire as die medium en ironie as die “Point of view”. Die roman teken nie alleen sekere lyne van die sosiale ontwikkelingspatroon oor geslagte heen nie, maar is ook en veral 'n aanval op bourgeois-eienskappe wat in die ontwikkelingsgang as verwerende en selfs vernietigende elemente voorkom. Sodanige eienskappe is die skyf van die satire. Die roman is gebaseer op die Slag van Magersfontein 1899, en die besoek van 'n TV-span en filmspan wat die beroemde Slag wil laat herbelewe. In gekonstrueerde ironie word die Slag, as die bovlak, teen die projekgangers as prototipes van die nageslagte van die helde van weleer, as die ondervlak gestel. As agtergrond dien die dorre vlaktes van Magersfontein, simbolies van die geestelike dood, dus die malaise van ons tyd. Die steriele karakters wat daarteen beweeg, word nie op tradisionele romanmatige wyse uitgebeeld nie, maar stel as meerkantige figure, 'n tema, 'n denkrigting, 'n groep of ‘n instelling voor, waarin bepaalde bourgeois-eienskappe voorkom wat onder die soeklig van die satire kom. Sodoende belig Leroux die oorsake van die malaise as synde kleinlikheid, selfbedrog, eiewaan, wensdenkery, snobisme, huigelary en hebsug. Die verkrummeling van die aristokrasie, een van die belangrikste oorsake van die toename in bourgeois-elemente, word in Lords Sudden en Se1dom uitgebee1d. Le Grange verteenwoordig die Staat as skepping van 'n vlytige bourgeoisie wat 'n liggaam in die lewe wou roep wat met die organisasie verbonde aan ekonomiese en tegniese vooruitgang, vir hulle tot hulp kon wees. Mr. Shipmaster, wat onder andere die organisasiemens verteenwoordig, kan ironies nie organiseer nie en 1eun a1 meer op die “Staat” dat die vir hom sy 1ewe gemak1i ker kan maak. Die satiriese spot lê in die ontaarding van die staat van ‘n geordende instelling tot ‘n burokrasie en uiteindelik tot ‘n militêre Staat. In Mr. Shipmaster word onder andere getoon hoe by gebrek aan inspanning, die leiersfiguur onder die invloed van ‘n massakultuur wat uit die bourgeoisie se massaproduksie ontstaan het, tot ‘n massamens kan degenereer. Op soortgelyke wyse word die ander karakters in die roman gebruik om op die verwerende elemente te wys. 'n Storm dreig, wat van 'n komende oordee1 getuig en die verskil1ende karakters se reaksie daarop is ook verskillend, net soos by die latere oorstromings. Die bee1d word een van 'n toenemende geeste1ike nood en die wetenskap in die persoon van die Man van Waterwese kom met sy helikopter (Tegniek) om die noodgeteisterdes te red. Die gebrek aan kommunikasie word toonbeeld van verskille in waardes; sy poging is 'n mislukking - hoe kan die wetenskap die taal van die siel in nood ken en verstaan? Intussen vorm 'n meer tussen die koppies waarop die noodgeteisterdes saamdrom. Die meer kan verstaan word as simboo1 van die psigies-herstelde mens. In die stadium tree Aristophanes Pompidous, wat as skrywer in die roman gekonstitueer is, vrywillig na vore om 'n simbo1iese sterwe-tot -die-1ewe te volvoer, ooreenkomstig die Griekse mite van Dionuses. Die waterbee1d is in die Christelike godsdiens ook ten nouste verbonde aan die aflegging van sonde in die Doop as verbond, wat wedergeboorte impliseer. Die boek eindig met die positiewe gedagte dat vo1kome herstel, dus hergeboorte wat herlewing inhou, moont1ik is uit die bee1d van 'n herstelde wêreld waarvan Lord Sudden ‘n visioen het vanuit die ballon. Die eens barre vlaktes van Magersfontein vertoon ten slotte aan hom (en die leser) die beeld van ‘n vrugbare, waterryke vallei. ENGLISH: The novel, Magersfonteint, o Magersfontein! by Etienne Leroux is an example of social realism and of critical realism, with satire as medium and irony as point of view. Thus the novel highlights the direction taken in social development in modern times, and also attacks those bourgeois characteristics that act as corrosive elements in this development. These characteristics form the butt of the satire in the novel. The novel is based on the Battle of Magersfontein 1899, and the attempt of a TV- and filmgroup to re-enact this battle on the actual terrain. Depicting the heroes who took part in the batt1e the author has pitched prototypes of the descendants of these heroes. The barren flats of Magersfontein, symbol of the malaise of our times, form the background against which these sterile characters move, partrayed as they are to represent aspects of borgeois society in themes, philosophies, groups and even institutions. In this manner Leroux exposes the causes for the existing malaise as being pettiness, self-deceit, wishful thinking, snobbery, hypocrisy and greed. The book, however, ends on a positive note, with the possibility of the complete restoration of man in a fleeting glimpse of the once desolate valley now looking fertile, filled with beauty and blessed with rain. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Afrikaans / unrestricted

This dissertation explores the central role of numbers in environmental policy and discourse, with a particular focus on the "economic turn" in nature conservation. The aim has been to understand and explain why, despite the parallel increase in environmental problems and in quantitative information about the environment, the faith in and focus on numbers to do something about the problems seem as strong as ever. The dissertation draws on discourse analysis and insights from historical and sociological studies about numbers and quantification and combines it within a critical realist methodology. The main empirical case analysed is the UN-backed study of "The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity" (TEEB), supplemented by an historical review of the development of environmental statistics since the 1970s and a review of the developments within conservation science with respect to the role of numbers. The historical review demonstrates a change from biophysical numbers to new measures of equivalence (e.g. CO2-equivalents), paralleling the move from central planning and administrative rationality to neoliberalism and market rationality. While monetary valuation has been much criticised in the environmental politics literature for leading to the commercialisation of nature, this study shows a more nuanced picture: the role of monetary valuation has rather been to "bridge" the transition from administrative rationality to market rationality. It is the newly developed measures of equivalence which allow setting up new markets for financial instruments and compensation schemes for environmental damage. In the case of TEEB, monetary valuation and its related arguments of efficiency, rational decision-making etc., are first and foremost rhetorical since the main recommendations (economic incentives and markets) are taken for granted. The centrality of numbers in current environmental policy discourse is explained by a combination of structural conditions, the search for business opportunities and actors' perceptions of money as the only possible language of communication. Some structural conditions are of a more general kind specific for modernity, while others are specific for the neoliberal era. A main problem with the number focus in environmental policy, is that it allows to not address the underlying drivers of the problems, and hence strengthens the "actualist" perception of reality. The study concludes that numbers have potential as evidence of environmental problems. However, change does not happen by the numbers themselves (contra mainstream economics), but must achieve political support. Further research is needed to understand better how numerical information can be combined with approaches which move beyond actualism, instrumentalism and relativism.

E-government services in the form of information systems (IS) artifacts create a new arena for co-creation that governments aim to leverage. Design of and knowledge about IS artifacts in value co-creation in e-government can thereby be considered valuable for the future development of e-government. How IS artifacts are used in value co-creation and co-destruction and how the artifacts are developed is however not well understood. This thesis addresses the problem of how to design for and understand value co-creation in e-government. To address the problem stated, three research questions are posed. (i) How can IS artifacts be designed to enable value co-creation in e-government and what aspects can inhibit value being co-created through the designed artifacts? (ii) How can boundary object theory facilitate the understanding of IS artifacts used in value co-creation and co-destruction in e-government? (iii) How can retrospectives in design science contribute to research on value co-creation in e-government? Two artifacts in the form of instantiations are designed and evaluated. Design science research methodology is used in two different projects at Swedish municipalities. Secondary analysis is used to identify aspects that inhibit value being co-created through the designed IS artifacts. From these inhibitors, core aspects for public value co-creation are derived. Thereafter, this thesis delves further into how IS artifacts are used in collaborations between citizens, private businesses, and government agencies in order to co-create value. Two case studies are carried out at Swedish government agencies and sociomaterial boundary object theory is used to enhance understanding. The thesis research process ends with a retrospective evaluation of the performed research, using critical realism as its philosophical foundation and guidance. The result includes one configurable process model that enables value co-creation by facilitating shared understanding between collaborating parties; one mobile service that enables value co-creation through citizen sourcing; aspects that inhibit the realization of co-created value; and four core aspects that need to be considered when designing artifacts for value co-creation. That IS artifacts can be regarded as boundary objects when you aim to study and understand value co-creation and co-destruction between communities in e-government. Descriptions of how IS artifacts, viewed as sociomaterial boundary objects, are used in value co-creation processes between governments, citizens, and businesses and outcomes in terms of value co-creation and co-destruction. The benefit of performing critical realism-guided retrospectives in design science in order to complement prescriptive knowledge with explanatory and critical knowledge is motivated. It is showed that the design of artifacts generates knowledge through the design efforts, regardless of whether they also yield utility. This thesis contributes to e-government research and practice with knowledge on how to design artifacts that enable value co-creation. Establishes sociomaterial boundary object theory as a theoretical lens that offers a tool to evaluate and design IS artifacts that enable value co-creation and with knowledge on how IS artifacts are used in value co-creation. The thesis also motivates the usefulness of retrospective evaluation in design science. Suggestions for future research include further developing design science retrospectives. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 6: Manuscript.</p>