This study aimed to understand how the identity of Manitobans with early malignancy is affected through diagnosis, decision making and treatment. Using grounded-theory methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adult patients with early breast, colon, lung, prostate and gynecological cancers, before and after adjuvant treatment decision making. 15 adult friends and family members were also interviewed. Significant findings include: 1) After diagnosis, the “cancer identity” emerged as a new aspect of the patient’s identity; 2) Establishing a post-diagnosis routine was a significant source of distress for patients; 3) Ability to re-establish routine post-diagnosis may be enhanced by providing earlier notification of medical appointment times and information regarding how different treatment options will affect the patient’s identity. This study provides new insight into the experience of patients with malignancy in Manitoba. Additionally, it presents recommendations, based on the insights and concerns of its participants, for improving the cancer journey of Manitobans. / May 2017

Syftet med den här kvalitativa studien är att undersöka hur kvinnor berättar om kriminalitet och vägen ut ur kriminaliteten. Genom att synliggöra den mening och betydelse kvinnor lägger i kriminalitet och hur den betydelsen formas i interaktion med såväl umgänge i kriminella kretsar som möte med professionella kan studien bidra med ökad kunskap om kvinnors kriminalitet. Studien är baserad på intervjuer med fyra kvinnor som har lämnat en kriminell livsstil bakom sig. Studien är genomförd med den induktiva metoden grundad teori och har sin teoretiska hemvist i symbolisk interaktionism. De tre övergripande kategorierna som under analysen visade sig i kvinnornas berättelser: motiv, relationer och samhälle, blev huvudbyggstenarna i den teoriskiss som resultatet och analysen slutligen landade i. Den teori som bygger på studiens resultat visar att kvinnorna kunde lämna kriminaliteten bakom sig efter att en omtolkningsprocess startats samtidigt som det i de tre områdena motiv, relationer och samhälle fanns icke-kriminella alternativ, förutsättningar och behandlingar. Omtolkningsprocessen kunde starta hos kvinnorna själva eller initieras av professionella. Det visade sig i studien att kvinnors kriminalitet både underskattas och underbehandlas. Stödet behövde vara långsiktigt, riktat mot kriminaliteten samt vara utformat efter kvinnors specifika behov. Kvinnorna behövde sunda, kvinnliga relationer, uppleva ett positivt föräldraskap, utveckla icke-kriminella värderingar samt en få en god självbild och icke-kriminell identitet. Det sociala arbetets utmaning består i att bygga en behandlingsform som tar hänsyn till kvinnors behov utifrån de tre nivåerna motiv, relationer och samhälle samt att både starta en omtolkningsprocess och snabbt fånga upp de kvinnor som befinner sig i en omtolkningsprocess. / The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine how women talk about crime and the ways they can get out of a criminal lifestyle. By highlighting the meaning women lay behind criminal actions and how those meanings are modified during interaction within both criminal circles and with the professional social workers this study can contribute to increased knowledge of women's criminality. The study is based on interviews with four women who have refrained from a criminal lifestyle. The study was conducted by the inductive method grounded theory and its theoretical resident is symbolic interactionism. During the analysis three main categories appeared in the women's stories: motives, relationships and society, and those categories became the main building blocks of the theory that the result and analysis finally landed in. The theory that is based on the results of the study showed that women could desist from crime if they experienced an internal modifying process while also being offered non-criminal options, conditions and treatments in the three areas of motives, relationships and society. The internal modifying process could be initiated by the women’s own thoughts or by a professional. It was found in the study that women's criminality are both underestimated and undertreated. The support needed to be long term, aimed specifically at crime and designed for the specific needs of women. The women were helped by experiencing healthy female relationships and positive parenting, by developing non-criminal values ​​and by developing a good self-image and non-criminal identity. The challenge for social work is to build a form of treatment that takes into account women's needs from the three levels motives, relationships and society and to both initiate a modifying process and quickly capture the women who are in in the midst of an internal modifying process.

Résumé : La schizophrénie est un trouble mental grave qui affecte toutes les facettes de la vie de la personne. En outre, le manque de soutien social est un problème important qui contribue à l’aggravation de la maladie, notamment en influençant négativement la capacité d’adaptation. Chez les personnes atteintes de schizophrénie, la capacité à utiliser des stratégies d’adaptation adéquates et efficaces est essentielle afin d’améliorer la santé, le bien-être et la prévention des rechutes. Cette recherche utilise la conception de l’adaptation de Roy (2009). De nombreuses études confirment la présence de difficultés d’adaptation chez ces personnes. De plus, le processus d’adaptation lui-même reste mal connu. La question de recherche était : Quel est le processus d’adaptation des personnes vivant avec la schizophrénie lorsque leur soutien social est limité ? Cette question sous-tendait deux objectifs : 1) décrire le processus d’adaptation des personnes atteintes de schizophrénie dans un contexte de soutien social limité et 2) contribuer au développement du modèle de Roy dans le contexte des troubles mentaux graves. Le devis de recherche était la théorisation ancrée constructiviste, auprès de 30 personnes vivant avec la schizophrénie. Les données étaient composées d’entrevues et de résultats de trois questionnaires qui ont contribué à décrire de façon plus détaillée le profil des participants. Les résultats sont une modélisation du processus d’adaptation nommée « les filtres dans le processus d’adaptation des personnes vivant avec la schizophrénie ». Cette modélisation met en lumière le fait que le potentiel d’adaptation des personnes vivant avec la schizophrénie est affecté à la fois par des éléments de l’environnement social et des éléments inhérents à la maladie elle-même. Ces éléments altèrent la possibilité et la capacité à utiliser des stratégies d’adaptation adéquates et efficaces. Ces résultats de recherche pourraient permettre d’améliorer l’évaluation des personnes atteintes de schizophrénie et de diminuer les « inconnues » dans l’effet des interventions, tout comme de favoriser les actions visant à lutter contre les conditions sociales qui nuisent à l’adaptation. / Abstract : Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects all human facets of life. In addition, the lack of social support is an important problem that contributes to the worsening of the disease by negatively influencing the capacity to adapt. For people with schizophrenia, ability to use appropriate and effective coping strategies is essential to improve health, well-being and preventing relapse. This research uses Roy’s adaptation model (2009). Numerous studies confirm the presence of adaptation problems for those persons. Furthermore, the adaptation process itself remains unclear. The research question was: what is the adaptation process of people with schizophrenia when social support is limited? This question underpinned two objectives: 1) describe the adaptation process of people with schizophrenia in a limited social support context and 2) contribute to the development of Roy’s adaptation model in severe mental disorders context. The research design was a constructivist grounded theory, with 30 people with schizophrenia. The data were consisted of interviews and results of three questionnaires that were helping to detail the participants profile. The results show a construct of an adaptation process called "the filters in the adaptation process of someone living with schizophrenia". This construct highlights the fact that the adaptation potential of people with schizophrenia is affected both by elements of the social environment and elements that are inherent to the disease itself. These elements affect the possibility and the ability to use appropriate and effective coping strategies. The research findings could facilitate the assessment of people with schizophrenia and reduce the unknowns in the impact of interventions, as well as fighting against social conditions that can interfere with their capacity to adapt.

The history of mankind has been plagued by an almost continuous chain of various armed conflicts - local, regional, national and global - that have caused horrendous damage to the social and physical fabric of cities. The tragedy of millions deprived by war still continues. This study sets out to understand the nature of reconstruction after war in the light of recent armed conflicts. It attempts to catalogue and discuss the tasks involved in the process of reconstruction planning by establishing a conceptual framework of the main issues in the reconstruction process. The case of Bosnia and Herzegovina is examined in detail and on the whole acts as the leit-motif of the whole dissertation and positions reconstruction in the broader context of sustainable development. The study is organized into two parts that constitute the doctoral aggregate dissertation – a combining of papers with an introductory monograph. In this case the introductory monograph is an extended one and there are six papers that follow. Both sections can be read on their own merits but also constitute one entity. The rebuilding of war-devastated countries and communities can be seen as a series of nonintegrated activities carried out (and often imposed) by international agencies and governments, serving political and other agendas. The result is that calamities of war are often accompanied by the calamities of reconstruction without any regard to sustainable development. The body of knowledge related to post-conflict reconstruction lacks a strong and cohesive theory. In order to better understand the process of reconstruction we present a qualitative inquiry based on the Grounded Theory Method developed originally by Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss (1967). This approach utilizes a complex conceptualization with empirical evidence to produce theoretical structure. The results of process have evolved into the development of a conceptual model, called SCOPE (Sustainable Communities in Post-conflict Environments). This study proposes both a structure within which to examine post-conflict reconstruction and provides an implementation method. We propose to use the SCOPE model as a set of strategy, policy and program recommendations to assist the international community and all relevant decision-makers to ensure that the destruction and carnage of war does not have to be followed by a disaster of post-conflict reconstruction. We also offer to provide a new foundation and paradigm on post-conflict reconstruction, which incorporates and integrates a number of approaches into a multidisciplinary and systems thinking manner in order to better understand the complexity and dependencies of issues at hand. We believe that such a systems approach could better be able to incorporate the complexities involved and would offer much better results than the approaches currently in use. The final section of this study returns to the fact that although it is probably impossible to produce universal answers, we desperately need to find commonalities amongst different postconflict reconstruction settings in order to better deal with the reconstruction planning in a more dynamic, proactive, and sustainable manner. / <p>QC 20111014</p>

Grounded theory was used to examine the social work perspective on English language learners (ELLs) entering special education. Fourteen interviews were conducted with 11 current school social workers from seven counties and cities in Virginia. The resulting theory is that the core variable, supporting ELLs, is the best attempt to resolve the main concern, the disconnect between the needs of ELLs and the resources available to them. This grounded theory suggests social workers and other school personnel can support ELLs and avoid an inappropriate referral to special education through: (1) culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment outside of the special education process, with particular attention to needs related to trauma and language acquisition; and (2) connection to available culturally and linguistically appropriate resources to meet the identified needs. Key findings are organized into eight dimensions: the school setting; the policy context; the needs of ELLs, engaging families of ELLs; community connections; the professional setting; the special education process; and the profession of social work. Implications include recommendations for policy change, changes to school social work practice, and changes in social work education. Further research includes testing the theory by examining the relationships between assessment, need, resource availability, and disproportional representation, as well as related areas of research such as the differences between high-ELL and low-ELL school divisions.

The purpose of this study was to determine the most significant factors that contributed to on-time undergraduate degree completion. On-time degree completion requires that a student complete all the requirements of their degree within 4.5 years or less. A grounded theory methodology was used to conduct the study. Narrative data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Thirty former students who completed their undergraduate degree at Virginia Commonwealth University were recruited for this study. To be eligible for the study, participants had to have completed their undergraduate degree in 4.5 years or less and graduated between 2004 and 2011. The analysis of the narrative data determined that preparation for on-time completion begins in high school and continues throughout a student’s college career. First, high school students who develop ‘academic self-esteem’ by participating in an honors courses or an early college credit program in high school enter college with the belief, or personal vision, that they can complete their degree in 4 years. However, in cases where the student matriculates without ‘academic self-esteem’ directed and intensive institutional support is an effective proxy. Next, a student must be self-motivated or determined to complete on-time. They must have an inherent reason for wanting to reach that goal post. However, since the findings indicated that motivation can be internal, external, or both, institutional support can be used as effective tool to develop these qualities where needed. Third, if students are to complete their undergraduate degrees on-time, they must develop a personal plan for accomplishing that goal at the very beginning of their college careers. This plan should be incorporated into the student’s academic advising sessions and updated as they acquire the credits required for the completion of their degree. And finally, students should be strongly encouraged to engage in campus life by participating student clubs, organizations, and/or athletics. Participation in campus life encourages persistence and therefore supports on-time completion.

Title: Psychosocial consequences of traumatic brain injury. Their impact on the patient's family. Author: František Jira Institution: Cathedra of psychology FF UK in Prague Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Petr Kulišťák, Ph.D. Number of pages: 116 Key words: traumatic brain injury psychosocial consequences family focus group grounded theory The submitted diploma thesis deals with the psychsocial consequences (related to the life among people) of traumatic brain injury. The main theme of the diploma thesis is the impact of these effects on the patient's family. The work consists of a theoretical and an empirical part. The theoretical part is divided into four spheres - neuroanatomy and pathology, brain injury, psychosocial consequences and rehabilitation. In the empirical part the author use a qualitative research approach to deal with the impact of psychosocial consequences after the traumatic brain injury to the patient's family. The research took place in association Cerebrum and Ústřední vojenská nemocnice Praha, it was conducted by the method of focal groups. The method of grounded theory was used for the consequent analysis. The result is an understandable processing of the extensive topic of the psychosocial consequences for people after brain injury. The work provides the detailed view of typical...

The diploma thesis is focused on a phenomenon of power in therapy relationship in way of Gestalt approach. It's based on a relationship concept between psychotherapist and client which is a fundamental factor in psychoteraphy change. The power is perceived in accordance with Michela Foucalt's theory as a natural and necessary relational phenomenon. In Gestalt approach intentions we pursue ways, in which the psychoterapist is aware his power, how he gets in touch and how he deals with it. Diploma thesis has got a theoretical empirical character, the theoretical part sumarizes knowledge about power, relationship like a base of helping professions work and basic knowledge from Gestalt therapy field. Empirical part uses design of qualitative metodology. We got data about Gestalt therapists' attitudes, perception and understanding of the power phenomenon. These gained data are processed by the grounded theory method and compared with other data. Next possibilities of broadening gained informations and working with them in therapy field are mentioned in the conclusion. Our results broaden knowledge about therapy relationship characteristics and bring an inspiration for psychotherapy training attenders, practising therapists and other helping professionals.

The Master's thesis is focused on the Slovakian TV show Nákupné maniačky and its' audience. The purpose of the thesis is to reveal the motivations leading to watching this show and to explore, whether the viewers perceive the show as a fashion show which allows them to draw inspiration, or rather as a reality show that should entertain them. The theoretical part introduces the concepts as audience, uses and gratifications and reality show genre. The final analysis of the acquired data is based on these terms but it aims to invent a new hypothesis. The second part is devoted to the research that is based on a qualitative method of a grounded theory. Required data was collected by the semi-structured interviews with viewers divided into two age categories. The result of categorizing data indicates that for all viewers the main motivation for watching the show is to have fun. Participants reported enjoying the program because of its' humour, while fashion plays an irrelevant role. The findings also show that participants are aware of interventions of production and they explained manipulating competitors as a strategy of the broadcasters to entertain audience and attract more viewers. This assumption was confirmed by an informant interview with one of the creators of the show.

The United States has been experiencing a nursing shortage since the mid-1990s. The shortage is expected to deepen as the provisions of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are enacted. Horizontal violence is a negative phenomenon in the nursing workplace that contributes to difficulty in recruiting and retaining nurses in hospitals. Horizontal violence has been described as a form of mistreatment, spoken or unspoken, that is threatening, humiliating, disrespectful or accusatory towards a peer. The effects of this nurse on nurse aggression can be devastating for the nurse involved and also for the patients under the nurse's care. Nursing and social science literature have advanced oppressed‐group behaviors as a motivating factor driving this phenomenon in nursing. Workplace stress has also been implicated in these negative behaviors. This study used a grounded theory approach to examine how nurses explain, through semi‐structured and open ended interviews, the phenomenon of horizontal violence in the nursing workplace. The primary outcome of this study was a small scale theory focused specifically on horizontal violence in the nursing work environment. The theory that emerged from this analysis was that horizontal violence can be influenced by other environmental factors beyond oppression theory. The results from the data indicated that these behaviors, described as horizontal violence, may be employed as a method of manipulating the care environment in an effort to enhance patient outcomes while maintaining group or individual perception of security through a sense of environmental control.