Bakgrund: Riksrevisionens statistik visar på en allt högre belastning på ambulanssjukvården i landet, detta har medfört att flera regioner infört rutiner för ambulanssjuksköterskan att bedöma det aktuella vårdbehovet hos patienterna för att hänvisa till rätt vårdnivå om det inte föreligger transportbehov med ambulans. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka ambulanssjuksköterskors upplevelser av att hänvisa patienter till annan vårdnivå när inget behov av ambulanstransport föreligger. Metod: Två kvalitativa fokusgruppsintervjuer genomfördes på två ambulansstationer inom Region Norrbotten. Ett ändamålsenligt urval användes för att rekrytera ambulanssjuksköterskor. Deltagarna var mellan 33 och 48 år och yrkeserfarenheten sträckte sig mellan 8 och 20 år. Data analyserades med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fyra huvudkategorier: Erfarenheter, magkänsla och bemötande gav förutsättningar för bedömning, Att välja vårdnivå var tidskrävande men värt arbetsinsatsen, Patienter som transporteras utan vårdbehov skapar frustration, En förändring kräver information, utbildning och stöd i beslut. Resultatet visade att ambulanssjuksköterskorna använde sig av intuition tillsammans med de befintliga rutinerna och kände sig då trygga med att bedöma och hänvisa patienterna till en annan vårdnivå. De saknade möjligheten till stöd av ambulansläkare för att underlätta vid bedömning och beslut. Ambulanssjuksköterskorna upplevde det som en begränsning att inte privata vårdgivare var anslutna till rutinen för att hänvisa patienter. Frustration uppstod när de var tvungna att transportera patienter utan vårdbehov.  Slutsats: För att kunna optimera akutsjukvårdens resurser så behöver rutiner ses över så att samtliga hälsocentraler i regionen ingår i “vårdstigen”. En ambulansläkare bör omgående rekryteras som ett stöd i ambulanssjuksköterskornas dagliga arbete och vid hänvisning av patienter till annan vårdnivå.

The master thesis focuses on citizen participation and how to support it with the application of ICT. Due to its recent publicity, blockchain and its features have been investigated and were related to the citizen participation domain. A qualitative research study has been conducted to explore the perceptions of citizens relating to blockchain. Based on those findings suggestions for improvement of citizen participation were provided. More specifically, a focus group interview has been conducted in the Swedish municipality of Växjö. Probes have been used to encourage the participants to follow unexpected thoughts to provide creative answers and to start a dialogue between the group and the researcher. The gathered data from the focus group interview was then analyzed with an iterative coding process. This process yielded a list of seven concepts which bundle the following aspects mentioned by the participants in the group interview: Accessibility, Flexibility and Responsiveness, Trust, Accountability vs Privacy, Adaption, Representation, and Collaboration. The concepts are referring to the use of blockchain in the context of citizen participation. They have been discussed later on, based on the contextual framework built on the topics ICT, blockchain, citizen participation, and soft systems methodology. A literature review was conducted to build this framework. The discussion summarizes how the citizens perceive blockchain and how it can support their participation within a municipality context. The perceptions include concerns relating to privacy, hopes of improved information infrastructures with open data formats, as well as that blockchain could modernize democracy. The forms of blockchain systems which could support citizen participation comprise aspects such as that it could lead to transparent and traceable investment flows for participative planning and controlling, as well as that it could help to identify bad players when collaborating with each other. In the last parts, issues of citizen empowerment are discussed as a result of the previous parts of the discussion about citizens' perceptions and the forms blockchain could have for them. This research aims to contribute to current research on citizen participation supported by ICT. It means to promote developments towards higher degrees of citizen power, by providing citizens' views on blockchain and the forms of participation it could support.

In 1997 a policy of rationalization and educator redeployment was adopted in South Africa to ensure funding equity among the provinces. This research investigates policy implementation with particular reference to the Limpopo Province. A literature review provided an overview of the policy including the determination of excess educators and the establishment of bodies to facilitate redeployment. Problems of implementation and the role of the school principal in this process are discussed. An empirical investigation using a qualitative approach explored the experiences of key stakeholders affected by educator redeployment: a government official, principals, educators who were transferred and educators awaiting redeployment. Participants were selected by judgement sampling and data gathered interviews. Findings illustrated the key role of the Department of Education, the educators' unions and principals; the effect on teachers' motivation; educator stress and the impact on receiving and sending schools. Based on the findings recommendations for practice are made. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

This study examined the prevalence and the nature of truancy among early adolescent learners attending secondary schools in the Education Management and Development Centre (EMDC) in the eastern metropole of the Western Cape. The main purpose of the study was to answer the following question: How can secondary school educators, in loco parentis, be equipped with the required skills and resources in order to deal with the issue of truant behaviour among early adolescent learners? A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore the character and extent of truancy. Thereafter, various theories of child development were highlighted, followed by a synopsis comprising different dimensions of the development of the early adolescent learner. The empirical investigation was carried out through quantitative as well as qualitative research methodology. A focus group interview was conducted with six learners, offering them an opportunity to express their perceptions and experiences as truants. Interviews were conducted with principals to obtain their impressions regarding truant behaviour. Thereafter, a questionnaire, which investigated truancy related aspects such as interaction with peers, parents and caregivers' involvement in learners' school activities, educators' influence on learners' school work and learners' self-esteem regarding their schooling, was administered to three hundred learners. The quantitative investigation revealed significant aspects about truant behaviour, indicating that predominantly more male than female learners (173 male and 26 as in the case of the present study) display this type of behaviour, truants generally originate from single parent families, and that they experience their educators and learning environments as extremely negative. Finally, two in-depth case studies were conducted on two learners, one identified as a truant and the other as a non-truant respectively. The purpose of the in-depth studies was to explore possible differences in their experiential worlds. Although the qualitative data is not generalisable, the findings of the case studies have revealed significant differences in the life worlds of the two learners. Comparatively speaking, it appears that non-truant learners are significantly better adjusted on all their functioning levels than truant learners. The results of the empirical investigation were compared with relevant findings which emerged from the literature study. Based on the present investigation, the study was concluded by offering a range of recommendations to secondary school educators, in loco parentis, empowering them in addressing the phenomenon of truancy among early adolescent learners in the Western Cape with its distinctive problems. / Educational Studies / D. Ed.(Psychology of Education)

This research aims to explore students’ perceptions and their desired features on the use of blockchain technology for the management of education records. A literature review formed the basis of the theoretical background of this work by allowing to explore how education records are managed nowadays and the potential for the use of blockchain technology in this area, as well as the importance of user-centred design in order to achieve a higher user-acceptance. A qualitative research study encompassing a focus group interview with Linnaeus University students was conducted to answer the research questions. Computer assisted thematic data analysis yielded five key themes: current usage of university education records, understanding how blockchain works, sustainability of blockchain, security of blockchain and implementation of blockchain for education records. The discussion relates the empirical findings to the theoretical background of the research. Participants were generally positive towards the use of blockchain for the management of education records and saw it as one of the potential future solutions. Nevertheless, they voiced some reservations regarding the high energy consumption, costs and security towards a possible use of the blockchain technology. Therefore, careful implementation would be needed, with increased focus on usability, solving some security and sustainability issues and ensuring a fair and transparent access model. This master thesis contributes to the current body of knowledge within informatics by empowering students to share their point of view with regards to possible development of IT solutions based on blockchain technology. As found through this master thesis research, systems for the management of educational records have an impact on person’s life long past finishing a course or a degree, affecting people’s everyday experience in many areas of life and students would like to be included in any future development discussions. Therefore, the research study provides insights which could be used in the future in two ways: firstly, to achieve a more user-centred design of education records management systems and secondly, on the students’ perception of the use of blockchain technology in this area of life.

Denna studie syftar till att undersöka vilka faktorer som påverkar konsumentens köpbeslut inom second-hand mode. Med tanke på hållbarhet och dess aktualitet så är det ett ämne som är intressant att forska vidare på. För att konsumenten ska ställa om till ett mer hållbart konsumtionsbeteende krävs en bred förståelse för vad som påverkar ett köpbeslut. Det finns ofta flera motiv och framförallt upplevda risker bakom second-hand konsumtion. Detta på grund av att begagnade varor utgör en större risk för konsumenten i och med att de tidigare har använts. Med en förhoppning om att kunna upplysa second-hand modeföretag kring hur de kan utveckla mer effektiva strategier, valde vi att undersöka bakomliggande faktorer till ett second-hand köp. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats som bygger på fokusgruppsintervjuer med 12 second-hand mode konsumenter. För att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar används Means-End Chain teorin (MEC) som bygger på motivationsfaktorer. Resultatet av studien visar att de största motiven till att handla second-hand mode är hållbarhet, ekonomi, unicitet och att konsumenten får känna att de har ett ansvar. Vi använder oss även av begreppet Perceived Risks med anledningen att vi ville identifiera upplevda risker med second-hand modekonsumtion, det visade sig vara defekta varor samt returer, tillgänglighet och utbud samt struktur och hygien. Vår studie bidrar till ökad förståelse för vilka faktorer som driver second-hand mode konsumenter till köp. / This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the consumer’s purchase decisions in second-hand fashion. Considering sustainability and its current relevance, it is an interesting topic to conduct further research on. In order for consumers to transition to a more sustainable consumption behavior, there needs to be a broad understanding of what influences purchasing decisions. There are often several motives and above all perceived risks behind second-hand consumption, as used goods pose a greater risk to the consumer due to their previous usage. With the hope of being able to inform second-hand companies about how they can develop more effective strategies, we chose to investigate the factors behind a second-hand purchase. The study employs a qualitative approach based on focus group interviews with 12 second-hand consumers. To answer the study's purpose and research questions, the Means-End Chain theory (MEC) is used, which is based on motivational factors. The results of the study show that the primary motives for shopping second-hand are sustainability, economics, uniqueness, and a sense of responsibility. We also utilize the concept of Perceived Risks to identify consumers' perceived risks associated with second-hand consumption, which turned out to be defective goods and returns, availability and selection, and structure and hygiene. Our study contributes to increased understanding of which factors drive second-hand fashion consumers to a purchase.

This research focuses on problems encountered by School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in executing their financial task in four schools situated in the Ramotse Area, Hammanskraal, north-east of the city of Tshwane. The research methodology, which was employed, can be described as qualitative, exploratory and descriptive by nature. Data was collected by means of two focus group interviews, one involving the chairpersons of SGBs and the other involving the managers of the same schools. An analysis of the data has revealed a number of financially related problems, which SGBs in the Ramotse Area experience, amongst other things that parents fail to meet their financial obligations and subsidies tend to arrive late. The most important recommendation made is that SGBs should be trained both better and more frequently. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

This study attempted to design and implement an intervention programme to improve the self-concepts and attitudes of prospective primary school teachers. The possible effects of the programme were researched by means of a combined quantitative and qualitative approach. A questionnaire to determine the effectiveness of the programme was also designed. Important findings of this study are that: (a) the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient indicated a 0,9 reliability of the designed questionnaire; (b) the average self-concepts of prospective teachers improved after the intervention programme was implemented, though not significantly and (c) the self-concepts of prospective teachers not majoring in Mathematics also improved after the intervention, though not significantly. A focus group interview was conducted to improve the intervention programme. On the basis of the responses of the participants in the focus group interview as well as of the quantitative study and of the literature reviewed, an improved version of the intervention programme was designed. According to the research, the programme should include: cooperative learning; everyday life contexts; manipulatives; hands-on activities, encouraging the asking of questions; a positive relationship between lecturer and student; writing assignments before doing a new topic; content relevance; a positive communication of assessment; games; various approaches to solving problems; understandable language; gender sensitivity and positive role modeling. The intervention programme implemented in this study was tested over a period of three months; hence the recommendation in this research for the replication thereof over a longer period. The study further recommends that since the study was conducted in one college of education only, there is a need for it to be conducted in a number of colleges, in order to elicit a broader and more representative picture of the impact of the intervention programme. The findings of this study advocate the need to combine both quantitative and qualitative research in studies: the results of the quantitative research did not conclusively indicate a positive impact of the intervention programme. However, the qualitative research saw respondents expressing improved confidence and attitudes. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Text in English / In Swaziland, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are professional nurses who have undergone preparation as general nurse, midwife and FNP. These nurses play an important role in the delivery of primary health care (PHC). Family nurse practice is an evolving concept introduced in Swaziland in 1979. It is a means of exploring nursing roles and primary health care services for deployment in under-served areas and to enable nurses to serve as the primary providers of health care services in clinics, health centres and in the outpatient departments of hospitals. Changing responsibilities within the health care setting require different skills and more knowledge. The expansion and extension of the nurses' role, including the techniques of diagnosing and treating, was a priority of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH&SW) in Swaziland's five-year development plan for 1978-1983. It was regarded as a necessary component for raising the quality and effectiveness of PHC services. Some of the major and urgent challenges that confront FNPs today are the advent of the human immune virus/acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) scourge and the re-emergence of the tuberculosis epidemic. Both these health problems require proficient diagnosis and case management skills as well as new approaches. If FNPs are to remain relevant and to continue to provide quality services in spite of prevailing challenges, they have to engage in continuing education (CE). The main aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of the FNP role, CE needs and issues relevant to the current practice of FNPs in Swaziland. A further aim was to establish a structure or framework for a CE programme that would contribute to the strengthening of CE for FNPs and identify enabling factors and barriers in the practice and education ofFNPs. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used for data collection. A survey was conducted to collect data from 5 7 FNPs and 11 nurse managers and nurse educators. The transcript from the questionnaires was subjected to quantitative-based content analysis. A total of thirty nurse managers, nurse educators and MOH&SW nurse executives participated in the focus group interviews. The collected data was subjected to qualitativebased content analysis. The findings identified the role of the FNP as manager, clinical practitioner, educator and researcher. The analyses highlighted the CE needs of FNPs, and the question of updating and upgrading the skills of practising FNPs. The identified enabling factors and barriers, although perceived as issues that are peripheral and auxiliary to the curriculum, appeared to have a strong bearing on programme planning. The findings from this study have implications for a structured CE programme for FNPs at the University of Swaziland. / Health Studies / D. Litt et Phil. (Nursing Sciences)

教育部明訂，九年一貫能力指標應作為教科書編輯者編撰課本、習作之依據。透過教科書，學生可期望習得能力指標所標示的能力。台灣國中英語教學現場中，習作常作為學生的回家作業，所以能力指標如何呈現在習作上可影響學生能力習得的結果；然而，目前相關研究仍顯不足，因此，本研究採用九年一貫國中英語讀寫能力指標，分析目前最為廣用的一套國中英語習作。另外，本研究也針對第一線國中英語教師進行團體訪談，以了解教師對習作和能力指標的看法。 本研究的結果總結如下: 1. 14條指標中，只有3項在習作中有超過10%的練習題目(推論字義文意;了 解文章主旨大意；合併、改寫及造句)；然而卻有8項指標在習作中的練 習題少於1.5%。 2. 針對被強調的3項指標，訪談教師同意這些能力的確需要被強調，只不過習 作的練習題仍顯不足。 3. 針對被忽略的8項指標，教師認為有些能力(例:查字典)對學生來說並非最 重要，因此習作缺乏此類練習是可以接受的；不過，某些能力(例:看懂圖 表標示)因為和學生的日常生活息息相關，理應出現在習作裡；而部分難度 較高的指標(例:寫一個段落)可編為自由選擇(optional)的習題，讓程度 較高的學生有更多練習的機會。 根據研究結果，研究者對教育決策者、教科書編輯、及英語教師提出數點 建議。 / The competence indicators (CI) listed in the Grades 1-9 Curriculum Guidelines are regulated as the principles for private publishers to compile teaching materials—textbooks and student workbooks. Through these teaching materials, it is expected that students can acquire the competences stipulated in the curriculum guidelines. Student workbooks, especially in Taiwan’s junior high school English classrooms, are used as a main source for students’ homework. Therefore, how the CIs are incorporated into the workbooks can affect students’ acquirement of the competences. Nonetheless, little research has been done on analysis of English workbooks based on competence indicators. This study, therefore, aimed to analyze a most popular set of junior high school English workbooks based on the Grades 7-9 reading and writing competence indicators. To gain more in-depth insights, a focus group interview with in-service teachers was later conducted to explore teachers’ views on the workbooks and competence indicators. The results of the present study are summarized as follows. 1.Of the 14 CIs, only three were emphasized (to guess meanings of words and reading passages; to understand main ideas; and to combine, change, and make sentences), each taking up more than 10% of the workbook exercises. However, there were up to eight CIs that were neglected, each taking up less than 1.5% of the workbook exercises. 2.As for the three emphasized CIs, the teacher interviewees agreed that the emphasis was necessary, but the practice in the workbooks were still insufficient for their students. 3.As for the eight neglected CIs, the teachers considered that: (1) lack of practice on some CIs, such as to use a dictionary, was acceptable, for these skills were impractical for their students; (2) some practices, such as to fill out forms, should have be included into the workbooks because they were related to students’ daily lives; (3) certain practices, such as to write a simple paragraph, could be designed as optional workbook exercises for high achieving students to master more advanced skills. Finally, some suggestions are provided on the basis of the findings in this study.