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The Living Standards Measure (LSM), a South African marketing segmentation method, is a wealth measure based on standard of living. This research study investigates whether a rationale can be found for the inclusion of value-related variables in this type of multivariate segmentation approach. Schwartz’s (1992; 2006) values model was used to operationalise personal values and individual-level culture – focusing on two of its dimensions, ideocentrism and allocentrism. The current positive psychology research trend manifests in the inclusion of subjective wellbeing (SWB), as measured by satisfaction with life (SWL). The primary objective of this research was to investigate at individual (and not group or societal) level whether values and SWL can be used to discriminate among multivariate consumer segments. Data were collected by means of a survey from a nationally representative sample (n = 2566) of purchase decision-makers (PDMs). The measurement instruments used were the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was used to assess the psychometric properties and test the equivalence of the scales across cultural groups. MGCFA was also used to test for differences across LSM groups on the PVQ and SWLS. Centred value scores were used to test for differences between LSM groups in terms of their values and SWL, using MANOVA. The findings supported Schwartz’s theory of basic human values, and small differences were found in the PVQ values between LSM groups using the MGCFA approach. MANOVA analyses showed stronger differences across LSM groups. PDMs in the higher LSM segments were more satisfied with their lives. No significant relationships between values and SWL were found, and the effect of individual-level culture, as a higher-order dimension of four values, showed a small but significant effect on SWL. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology))

Vikten av utbildning och livslångt lärande är betydelsefulla faktorer för att den ekonomiska tillväxten i vårt land ska stimuleras, för att välfärden ska kunna tryggas och för att motverka ytterligare samhällsklyftor. Statistik från Skolverket visar på en konstant andel, ca 10 % de senaste fem åren, av elever i årskurs 9 som inte är behöriga att söka till gymnasiet. Det beror på att de inte har uppnått kursplanemålen för att få godkänt i kärnämnena svenska, matematik och engelska. Detta är bakgrunden till att vi har valt att redogöra för och belysa lärares utsagor och resonemang kring hinder och förutsättningar för elevers måluppfyllelse i kärnämnena. I denna kvalitativa studie har vi använt oss av intervjuer som teknik. Vi har intervjuat sex lärare, på fem olika skolor i en mellanstor kommun i sydvästra Sverige. Studien är uppdelad på tre nivåer, organisations-, grupp- och individnivå. På organisationsnivå handlar det bland annat om skolpolitik, skolans ledning och skolans styrdokument. På gruppnivå handlar det om klassen/gruppen och arbetslaget och på individnivå handlar det om den enskilde eleven och den enskilde läraren. Resultatet indikerar på att lärarnas resonemang till stor del kom att kretsa kring lärarens egen roll för elevers måluppfyllelse. Ytterligare framkom det att styrdokumenten spelar en betydande roll, på grund av att de lämnar stort tolkningsutrymme. Andra faktorer som resultatet visar på är att elever inte är tillräckligt motiverade för skolarbete och därigenom måluppfyllelse. Det finns elever som har låg begåvning och det finns elever med utländsk bakgrund som kommer in sent i det svenska skolsystemet. De kan därför få svårigheter att uppnå målen. Vår slutsats är därför; nej skolans mål är inte möjliga att nå för alla elever! / The importance of education and lifelong learning are essential factors to ensure and stimulate economic growth in our country, to secure welfare and counteract polarisation of social classes. During the last five years statistics from the Swedish Board of Education shows a constant number of approximately 10 % of the students in year 9 who have not qualified for upper secondary education. This is because they have not attained the goals of the syllabus which require a pass in the core subjects of Swedish, mathematics and English. This fact is the reason for our investigation in which we illustrate teachers’ assertions and lines of arguments concerning impediments and preconditions for attaining the goals of the core subjects. In this qualitative study we have used interviews as our main approach. We have interviewed six teachers at five different schools in a medium size municipality in the south-west of Sweden. The study is divided into three levels, organization, group and individual level. On the organization level the key issues are school policy, school administration and the steering documents of the school. On the group level the key issues are the class/group and the working team and on the individual level the study focuses on the individual pupil/student and the individual teacher. The result indicates that the teachers’ lines of arguments were focused on his/her own role of importance for the pupils’/students’ attainments of the goals. Furthermore it appeared that the steering documents play an important part because they can be interpreted in many ways. Other factors shown in the study are that pupils/students are not motivated enough to do schoolwork and thereby reach the goals. There are pupils/students who are less talented and others who have a different cultural background and get enrolled in the Swedish school system late. They might therefore have difficulties attaining the goals. Thus our conclusion is; no it is not possible for every pupil/student to attain the goals of school! We use both the words pupil and student because we sometimes mean the younger children (pupils) but also the older ones (students).

<p>Vikten av utbildning och livslångt lärande är betydelsefulla faktorer för att den ekonomiska tillväxten i vårt land ska stimuleras, för att välfärden ska kunna tryggas och för att motverka ytterligare samhällsklyftor. Statistik från Skolverket visar på en konstant andel, ca 10 % de senaste fem åren, av elever i årskurs 9 som inte är behöriga att söka till gymnasiet. Det beror på att de inte har uppnått kursplanemålen för att få godkänt i kärnämnena svenska, matematik och engelska. Detta är bakgrunden till att vi har valt att redogöra för och belysa lärares utsagor och resonemang kring hinder och förutsättningar för elevers måluppfyllelse i kärnämnena.</p><p>I denna kvalitativa studie har vi använt oss av intervjuer som teknik. Vi har intervjuat sex lärare, på fem olika skolor i en mellanstor kommun i sydvästra Sverige. Studien är uppdelad på tre nivåer, organisations-, grupp- och individnivå. På organisationsnivå handlar det bland annat om skolpolitik, skolans ledning och skolans styrdokument. På gruppnivå handlar det om klassen/gruppen och arbetslaget och på individnivå handlar det om den enskilde eleven och den enskilde läraren.</p><p>Resultatet indikerar på att lärarnas resonemang till stor del kom att kretsa kring lärarens egen roll för elevers måluppfyllelse. Ytterligare framkom det att styrdokumenten spelar en betydande roll, på grund av att de lämnar stort tolkningsutrymme. Andra faktorer som resultatet visar på är att elever inte är tillräckligt motiverade för skolarbete och därigenom måluppfyllelse. Det finns elever som har låg begåvning och det finns elever med utländsk bakgrund som kommer in sent i det svenska skolsystemet. De kan därför få svårigheter att uppnå målen. Vår slutsats är därför; nej skolans mål är inte möjliga att nå för alla elever!</p> / <p>The importance of education and lifelong learning are essential factors to ensure and stimulate economic growth in our country, to secure welfare and counteract polarisation of social classes. During the last five years statistics from the Swedish Board of Education shows a constant number of approximately 10 % of the students in year 9 who have not qualified for upper secondary education. This is because they have not attained the goals of the syllabus which require a pass in the core subjects of Swedish, mathematics and English. This fact is the reason for our investigation in which we illustrate teachers’ assertions and lines of arguments concerning impediments and preconditions for attaining the goals of the core subjects.</p><p>In this qualitative study we have used interviews as our main approach. We have interviewed six teachers at five different schools in a medium size municipality in the south-west of Sweden. The study is divided into three levels, organization, group and individual level. On the organization level the key issues are school policy, school administration and the steering documents of the school. On the group level the key issues are the class/group and the working team and on the individual level the study focuses on the individual pupil/student and the individual teacher.</p><p>The result indicates that the teachers’ lines of arguments were focused on his/her own role of importance for the pupils’/students’ attainments of the goals. Furthermore it appeared that the steering documents play an important part because they can be interpreted in many ways. Other factors shown in the study are that pupils/students are not motivated enough to do schoolwork and thereby reach the goals. There are pupils/students who are less talented and others who have a different cultural background and get enrolled in the Swedish school system late. They might therefore have difficulties attaining the goals. Thus our conclusion is; no it is not possible for every pupil/student to attain the goals of school!</p><p>We use both the words pupil and student because we sometimes mean the younger children (pupils) but also the older ones (students).</p>

跨機關服務協力合作網絡的有效形成，在官僚體制漸漸無法發揮績效的情況下，更顯得重要。為了探討在機關間協力合作的種種問題，本研究以公共網絡管理文獻建構跨機關間協力合作的模型。公共網絡管理的文獻，主要在探索公共管理者的行為與角色，以及機關間的協力合作行為，如何貢獻於服務傳遞協力合作網絡績效，而這兩個研究問題，也存在於本論文的觀察單位-臺北市政府戶政業務之中。資料來源主要是以問卷方式調查臺北市政府負責戶政業務戶政人員的主觀認知性資料。研究方法則是透過描述性統計、相關係數、信度考驗、確認性因素分析(Confirmatory Factor Analysis, CFA)、迴歸分析、迴歸診斷與結構方程式（Structural Equation Model, SEM）。 本研究的問卷抽樣數共524份，有效問卷為338份，回收率為64.5％。在統計分析上，無論在因素負荷量、信度考驗、迴歸模型解釋比率，以及結構方程式的模型適配度皆符合或接近標準。而多元迴歸分析（OLS）與結構方程式（SEM）亦顯示機關之間的資源分享與協助並無助於戶政服務傳遞協力協力合作網絡間的績效，這也解釋部分理論文獻對協力協力合作網絡過於樂觀的質疑。本研究亦發現網絡管理文獻所建構的特定因素如核心機關（民政局）的協調，以及策略與結構的協調與整合是有助於戶政服務傳遞協力協力合作網絡績效。在研究貢獻上，期許檢驗研究問題與研究假設，以及這些規範性理論應用至政府實務的深度。 / The efficient formation for interagency service delivery network is comparatively important when the bureaucracy falis to make it well in public affairs. This research employs the literatures of public network management to construct the model of interagency collaborations. Two research are discussed in public network management and our research with the observed unit of the household registration of Taipei City Government: how the behaviors and roles of public network managers and collaborative behaviors among public agencies contribute to the network performance of interagency service delivery network. The data sources are draw from subjective perceptive data of public managers and public administrators who response for household registration services in Taipei City Government. The research method employs descriptive statistics, correlations, reliability, confirmatory factor analysis, regression analysis, regressive dignosis and structural equation model. The response rates in this research are 64.5%(338/524). In statistics, the the factor loadings, reliability, R2 for the regression model, and the goodness of the fit for structural equation model(SEM) also show that the resources-sharing among the agencies does not benefit the netwotk performance in household service-delivery network, which doubt the celebratory viewpoints from some public network management literatures. This research also finds some factors such as the coordination of network core administrative agency (the Bureau of Civil Affairs), the integration and coordination of strategies and structures, are helpful for network performance in collaborative network of household service-delivery network. For the contributions of research, this research expects to examine our research questions and research hypotheses and then applies these normative theories to the depths of government practices.

In the Northern Athabaskan languages Tlicho Yatiì, Dene and Dene Dzage, copulas and auxiliary verbs are based on reflexes of two Proto-Athabaskan roots, *-LII and *-T’E’. I propose that in the first two languages, copulas with nominal complements show distributional differences that derive from a stage-/individual-level predicate distinction, and that historically, this distinction in the proto-language motivated the development of auxiliaries marking tense/aspect/mode distinctions solely from the copulas based on *-LII. Further, I propose that subsequent to this development, the original stage-/individual-level predicate distinction between the copulas disappeared in Dene Dzage, leaving the TAM markers as evidence of its historical existence. I provide support for these contentions with data from fieldwork in Tlicho Yatiì and from textual sources in all three languages, grounding the work in current theories of syntax and of temporal grammar.

The Living Standards Measure (LSM), a South African marketing segmentation method, is a wealth measure based on standard of living. This research study investigates whether a rationale can be found for the inclusion of value-related variables in this type of multivariate segmentation approach. Schwartz’s (1992; 2006) values model was used to operationalise personal values and individual-level culture – focusing on two of its dimensions, ideocentrism and allocentrism. The current positive psychology research trend manifests in the inclusion of subjective wellbeing (SWB), as measured by satisfaction with life (SWL). The primary objective of this research was to investigate at individual (and not group or societal) level whether values and SWL can be used to discriminate among multivariate consumer segments. Data were collected by means of a survey from a nationally representative sample (n = 2566) of purchase decision-makers (PDMs). The measurement instruments used were the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was used to assess the psychometric properties and test the equivalence of the scales across cultural groups. MGCFA was also used to test for differences across LSM groups on the PVQ and SWLS. Centred value scores were used to test for differences between LSM groups in terms of their values and SWL, using MANOVA. The findings supported Schwartz’s theory of basic human values, and small differences were found in the PVQ values between LSM groups using the MGCFA approach. MANOVA analyses showed stronger differences across LSM groups. PDMs in the higher LSM segments were more satisfied with their lives. No significant relationships between values and SWL were found, and the effect of individual-level culture, as a higher-order dimension of four values, showed a small but significant effect on SWL. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology))

Syftet är att undersöka pedagogers uppfattning av krishanteringen i förskolan under covid-19 pandemin genom en analys av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön. Mätmetoden skapades av QPSNordic och diskuteras utifrån ett ramfaktorsteoretiskt perspektiv. Frågeställningarna för studien lyder: Hur skattar pedagogerna sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö under denna krishantering? Vilka åtgärder upplever pedagogerna de behöver i den psykosociala arbetsmiljön för att lyckas med krishanteringen, och på vilken teoretisk begreppsnivå är det aktuellt? Finns det skillnader i pedagogers upplevelse av covid-19 pandemi krishantering i förskolan med hänsyn till tidigare forskning om detta fenomen i andra länder? Begreppen arbetsnivå, social- och organisationsnivå samt individnivå i ramfaktorteorin diskuterades med resultatet att pedagogernas psykosociala arbetsmiljö har påverkats mest i den grad av kontroll pedagoger upplever att de har över sitt arbete. Arbetsnivån var negativ, social- och organisationsnivån var positiv och individnivån hade ingen korrelation med den upplevda krishanteringen. Flera tog upp den förändring förskolan har genomgått på grund av pandemin och att de förändrade förutsättningarna innebär att den pedagogiska verksamheten har fått göra restriktioner på plats jämfört med internationellt som stängde ner verksamheterna eller utförde det distans. / The purpose is to investigate educators' perception of crisis management in preschool during the Covid-19 pandemic through an analysis of the psychosocial work environment. The measurement method was created by QPSNordic and is discussed from a frame factor factor theoretical perspective. The questions for the study are: How do educators evaluate their psychosocial work environment during this crisis management? What measures do the educators experience they need in the psychosocial work environment to succeed in crisis management, and at what theoretical level of concept is it relevant? Are there differences in educators' experience of Covid-19 pandemic crisis management in preschool with regard to previous research on this phenomenon in other countries? The concepts of work level, social and organizational level and individual level in the frame factor factor theory were discussed with the result that the educators' psychosocial work environment had mostly been affected to the degree of control educators felt they had over their work. The work level was negative, the social and organizational level was positive, and the individual level had no correlation with the perceived crisis management. Several mentioned the change the preschool had undergone due to the pandemic and that the changed conditions meant that the educational activities have had to make restrictions in place compared to internationally, which closed the activities or performed it remotely.

Given the lack of effective vaccine or medicine, changing an individual's risk behaviours has been crucial in preventing the spread of HIV. Consistent and correct condom use has been considered as the most effective form of HIV prevention among female sex workers. Despite coordinated national level interventions over the last decade, a consistent decline in condom use among female sex workers has been evidenced in the Ethiopian context, particularly with non-paying partners. Thus far, no study has been produced that has illustrated major determinants of consistent condom use among female sex workers which would help in developing effective intervention strategies for the prevention of HIV spread in the country. In other countries, the Information, Motivation and Behaviour (IMB) model has been used to identify individual level determents of condom use. However, the researcher postulated that behaviour emanating from the personality structure of individuals could be the fundamental individual level determents of adherence to condom use and chose to investigate this using the Enneagram theory of personality, which was acknowledged for its heuristic value in explaining and enhancing self-development of at-risk individuals. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa. With the Without Finite Population Correction of the Sample Size Estimation Formula, the sample size of 350 was set and participants were recruited using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS). Using trained female sex workers, the Essential Enneagram Test (EET) and an Information-Motivation-Behaviour (IMB) questionnaire were administered to collect data. General Linear Modeling (GLM) Multivariate analysis was carried out to assess the correlation between personality style and consistent condom use among participants in the last seven days before the interview. The finding of this study revealed that personality type, measured by the Essential Enneagram Test (EET), is able to predict adherence to condom use among female sex workers and provided a new dimension for policy makers and practitioners in behavioural intervention programmes, such as Information-Education-Communication, peer-to-peer approaches, as well as health and rehabilitation services by using the Enneagram principles and universal growth process. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

La santé des enfants demeure une question prioritaire en Afrique sub-saharienne. Les disparités en matière de mortalité entre pays et au sein des pays persistent et se sont fortement accrues durant la dernière décennie. En dépit de solides arguments théoriques voulant que les variables contextuelles soient des déterminants importants de la santé des enfants, ces facteurs, et particulièrement les influences du contexte local, ont été étudiées beaucoup moins souvent que les caractéristiques individuelles. L'objectif principal de la présente thèse est d’identifier les déterminants individuels et contextuels associés à la mortalité des enfants de moins de 5 ans en Afrique sub-saharienne. L’analyse systématique est basée sur les données les plus récentes des enquêtes démographiques et de santé (DHS/EDS). Deux questions spécifiques sont examinées dans cette thèse. La première évalue la mesure dans la quelle le contexte local affecte la mortalité infanto-juvénile, net des caractéristiques individuelles. La seconde question est consacrée à l’examen de l’effet du faible poids à la naissance sur le risque de décès avant 5 ans. Par rapport à la première question, les analyses multi-niveaux confirment pour plusieurs pays étudiés l’importance simultanée de l’environnement familial et du contexte local de résidence dans l’explication des différences de mortalité infanto-juvénile. Toutefois, par comparaison au contexte familial, l’ampleur de l’effet de l’environnement local paraît assez modeste. Il apparaît donc que le contexte familial reste un puissant déterminant de la mortalité des enfants de moins de 5 ans en Afrique sub-saharienne. Les résultats indiquent en outre que certains attributs du contexte local de résidence influencent le risque de décès des enfants avant 5 ans, au-delà des facteurs individuels dans plusieurs pays. Cette thèse confirme l’effet contextuel de l’éducation sur la mortalité des enfants. Cet effet s’ajoute, dans certains pays, à l'effet positif du niveau individuel d’éducation de la mère sur la survie de l'enfant. Les résultats montrent aussi que le degré d’homogénéité ethnique de la localité influence fortement la probabilité de mourir avant 5 ans dans certains pays. Globalement, les résultats de cette thèse suggèrent que le défi de réduire la mortalité des enfants va au-delà des stratégies visant uniquement les facteurs individuels, et nécessite une meilleure compréhension de l’influence des facteurs contextuels. Par rapport à la deuxième question, les résultats montrent également que les facteurs individuels restent aussi très importants dans l’explication des différences de mortalité des enfants dans plusieurs pays étudiés. Nos résultats indiquent que les différences de mortalité selon le poids à la naissance sont significatives dans tous les pays inclus dans l’analyse. Les enfants nés avec un faible poids (moins de 2500 grammes) courent presque 2 à 4 fois plus de risques de mourir au cours des cinq premières années de vie que les enfants de poids normal, même après correction pour l’hétérogénéité non observée. Ce résultat suggère qu’en plus des mesures visant à réduire la pauvreté et les inégalités de revenus, la réduction de l’incidence du faible poids à la naissance pourrait apporter une contribution majeure aux Objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement; spécialement comme une stratégie efficace pour réduire le niveau de mortalité parmi les enfants de moins de cinq ans. / Child health remains a priority area for health policy in sub-Saharan Africa. Disparities in child mortality between and within countries have persisted and widened considerably during the last few decades. While researchers have devoted considerable attention to the impact of individual-level factors on child mortality, less is known about how community characteristics and institutions affect health outcomes for children, even though they have a prominent role in theoretical models. The aim of this thesis is to identify individual and contextual effects of child mortality by using data from the latest round of Demographic Health Surveys for all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Two sets of questions are addressed in this research. First, we evaluate the impact of contextual factors on the risk of dying before age 5 net of the effect of individual factors. The results indicate that some attributes of the community influence the mortality risks of children, over and above the intermediate factors included in this investigation. For instance, in half of the countries under study a 1% increase in the proportion of children fully immunized in the community is associated with a decrease of 17-79% in the odds of dying before age 5. The proportion of women in the community completing secondary school also significantly increases child survival. This effect is, in some countries, in addition to the positive individual-level effect of the child’s own mother being educated. Net of individual and household characteristics, higher community-level ethnic homogeneity is associated with decreased odds of dying before age 5 in some countries. Overall, the results of this study therefore suggest that the challenge to reduce under-five mortality goes beyond addressing individual factors, and requires a better understanding of contextual factors. Second, the study exploits recent national survey data for nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa to investigate the association of LBW and mortality not only in infancy but also during childhood, using a standardized methodology to adjust missing birth weight data from household surveys while accounting for unobserved family-level factors (genetic or behavioral) that may modify the relationship between birth weight and under-five-years mortality. We find evidence of the impact of birth weight on the risk of dying not only in infancy but also during childhood, which remains strong and significant in all countries even after controlling for potential confounding factors. The main policy implication of our findings is that reducing the incidence of LBW may be an important prevention strategy to combating child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa countries.