Este estudo foi desenvolvido junto ao Programa Rede São Paulo de Formação Docente - Redefor, no segmento específico de execução e gestão a cargo da Universidade de São Paulo (Redefor-USP) e visa compreender, a partir de uma abordagem netnográfica, como se desenvolvem e se estabelecem, no contexto educacional virtual e nos seus desdobramentos nos ambientes cotidianos pessoal, familiar e escolar, as autopercepções dos cursistas regularmente matriculados em relação às suas literacias digitais, por nós entendidas como componentes de um conjunto integrado, articulado e holístico de capacidades, habilidades e competências - em contínuo processo de aquisição e de desenvolvimento - que permitem ao indivíduo não apenas navegar e se comunicar na Internet, mas nela adquirir, produzir e distribuir informações, conhecimentos, sentidos, narrativas e representações de si e do mundo que habita. Neste contexto, visamos compreender os modos como as novas formas de ensino e aprendizado mediadas pelas tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC) alteram as realidades desses sujeitos e suas relações sociais, e como, a partir da aquisição de maiores níveis de familiaridade e de domínio sobre essas possibilidades tecnológicas, se instauram e se manifestam novos usos e apropriações das ferramentas digitais pelos docentes em processo de aprendizagem em serviço. / This study was developed from the Programa Rede São Paulo de Formação Docente - Redefor, regarding the specific section of execution and management under the resposability of the University of São Paulo (Redefor - USP). From the netnography approach, it seeks to understand how the self-perceptions of the enrolled participants are developed and established in the virtual educational context and its consequences in personal, family and school everyday environments. The aim is to observe their digital literacies, understood as components of an integrated, cohesive and holistic set of skills and expertise - in continuous process of acquisition and development - that allow the individual not only navigate and communicate in the Internet, but it also obtain, produce and distribute information, knowledge, meanings, narratives and representations of themselves and the world they live. In this context, we aim to understand in which ways new forms of teaching and learning mediated by information and communication technologies (ICT) alter the realities of these individuals and their social relationships, also how higher levels of familiarity and domain regarding these technological possibilities are established and manifest new uses and appropriations of digital tools by teachers in service learning process.

Introdução: O impacto inicial do nascimento de uma criança com malformação por vezes é tão grande que os familiares despendem grande quantidade de tempo e energia para atender às primeiras demandas de tratamento e reabilitação da criança, o que faz com que coloquem em segundo plano investigações mais aprofundadas relacionadas à malformação. Justificativa: Conhecer opiniões de familiares de crianças nascidas com fissuras labiopalatinas acerca do tratamento pode contribuir para que se desenvolvam políticas públicas mais inclusivas para os portadores de FLP e aperfeiçoar protocolos de tratamento e de investigação, incluindo o aconselhamento genético e ações voltadas ao incremento do banco genético. A experiência dos cuidadores no desenvolvimento das políticas permite a prevenção de doenças e transtornos associados à ocorrência de fissuras labiopalatinas. Objetivos: Analisar as experiências de familiares de crianças nascidas com fissuras labiopalatinas acerca do tratamento e de orientações recebidas sobre o cuidado de crianças nascidas com essa malformação. Método: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo desenhado para análise sob a técnica da Análise do Discurso a partir dos testemunhos de 11 (onze) mães de crianças com FLP e que compartilham site orientado a familiares e cuidadores de crianças com malformação do tipo FLP. Optou-se pela análise temática categorial como eixo estruturante dos achados. Resultados: Cinco modalidades de testemunhos das (e para) as mães foram identificadas: (1) mensagens de encorajamento e superação; (2) mensagens informativas; (3) relatos pessoais de ambos os indivíduos nascidos com fissura labiopalatina e parentes destes; (4) mensagens com fotografias, incluindo antes e depois de cirurgias reparadoras; e (5) mensagens de interação dos membros nos comentários, relacionadas a outras questões que surgem no decorrer da publicação dos comentários. Conclusões: O relato de abalos emocionais é frequente nas narrativas, com menção a angústia e desespero mas está presente o sentimento de resiliência e de esperança como componente intrínseco do sentimento de maternidade. A descoberta do diagnóstico durante a gravidez ou mesmo a suspeita de que a criança possa vir a ter fissura labiopalatina em função de outros casos na família parecem minimizar o impacto da notícia. Transparecem nas mensagens sinais de conflito entre as participantes da pesquisa e profissionais de saúde, pais das crianças, tanto em função de condutas profissionais quanto de tratamento. A investigação genética em si é cercada de contradições, incertezas e desinformações. A investigação genética aparece, nas narrativas, como procedimento invasivo, sendo inclusive nomeada dessa maneira por profissional de saúde que acompanhou a gravidez de uma das mães. É apontada, ainda, como desnecessária, frente ao grande número de exames, consultas, procedimentos e cirurgias aos quais crianças nascidas com fissuras labiopalatinas são submetidas desde o momento de seu nascimento. / Introduction: The initial impact of the birth of a child with malformation is sometimes so great that family members spend a great deal of time and energy to meet the child\'s first demands for treatment and rehabilitation, which makes them investigate further related to malformation. Rationale: Knowing the opinions of family members of children born with cleft lip and palate about treatment can contribute to the development of more inclusive public policies for FLP patients and to improve treatment and research protocols, including genetic counseling and actions to increase the bank genetic. The caregivers\' experience in policy development allows the prevention of diseases and disorders associated with the occurrence of cleft lip and palate. Objectives: To analyze the experiences of family members of children born with cleft lip and palate about the treatment and guidelines received about the care of children born with this malformation. Method: This is a qualitative study designed for analysis under the Discourse Analysis technique from the testimonies of 11 (eleven) mothers of children with FLP and who share a site oriented to family members and caregivers of children with FLP malformation. The categorical thematic analysis was chosen as the structuring axis of the findings. Results: Five types of (and for) mothers\' reports were identified: (1) messages of encouragement and overcoming; (2) information messages; (3) personal reports of both individuals born with cleft lip and palate and relatives of these; (4) messages with photographs, including before and after restorative surgeries; and (5) member interaction messages in the comments, related to other issues that arise in the course of the publication of the comments. Conclusions: The report of emotional upheavals is frequent in the narratives, with mention of anguish and despair, but the feeling of resilience and hope is present as an intrinsic component of the feeling of motherhood. The discovery of the diagnosis during pregnancy or even the suspicion that the child may have cleft lip and palate in function of other cases in the family seem to minimize the impact of the news. Messages of conflict between the research participants and health professionals, the parents of the children, are shown in the messages, both in terms of professional conduct and treatment. Genetic research itself is surrounded by contradictions, uncertainties and disinformation. Genetic research appears in the narratives as an invasive procedure, being even named in this way by a health professional who followed the pregnancy of one of the mothers. It is also pointed out as unnecessary, given the large number of exams, consultations, procedures and surgeries to which children born with cleft lip and palate are submitted from the moment of their birth.

Introdução: O impacto inicial do nascimento de uma criança com malformação por vezes é tão grande que os familiares despendem grande quantidade de tempo e energia para atender às primeiras demandas de tratamento e reabilitação da criança, o que faz com que coloquem em segundo plano investigações mais aprofundadas relacionadas à malformação. Justificativa: Conhecer opiniões de familiares de crianças nascidas com fissuras labiopalatinas acerca do tratamento pode contribuir para que se desenvolvam políticas públicas mais inclusivas para os portadores de FLP e aperfeiçoar protocolos de tratamento e de investigação, incluindo o aconselhamento genético e ações voltadas ao incremento do banco genético. A experiência dos cuidadores no desenvolvimento das políticas permite a prevenção de doenças e transtornos associados à ocorrência de fissuras labiopalatinas. Objetivos: Analisar as experiências de familiares de crianças nascidas com fissuras labiopalatinas acerca do tratamento e de orientações recebidas sobre o cuidado de crianças nascidas com essa malformação. Método: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo desenhado para análise sob a técnica da Análise do Discurso a partir dos testemunhos de 11 (onze) mães de crianças com FLP e que compartilham site orientado a familiares e cuidadores de crianças com malformação do tipo FLP. Optou-se pela análise temática categorial como eixo estruturante dos achados. Resultados: Cinco modalidades de testemunhos das (e para) as mães foram identificadas: (1) mensagens de encorajamento e superação; (2) mensagens informativas; (3) relatos pessoais de ambos os indivíduos nascidos com fissura labiopalatina e parentes destes; (4) mensagens com fotografias, incluindo antes e depois de cirurgias reparadoras; e (5) mensagens de interação dos membros nos comentários, relacionadas a outras questões que surgem no decorrer da publicação dos comentários. Conclusões: O relato de abalos emocionais é frequente nas narrativas, com menção a angústia e desespero mas está presente o sentimento de resiliência e de esperança como componente intrínseco do sentimento de maternidade. A descoberta do diagnóstico durante a gravidez ou mesmo a suspeita de que a criança possa vir a ter fissura labiopalatina em função de outros casos na família parecem minimizar o impacto da notícia. Transparecem nas mensagens sinais de conflito entre as participantes da pesquisa e profissionais de saúde, pais das crianças, tanto em função de condutas profissionais quanto de tratamento. A investigação genética em si é cercada de contradições, incertezas e desinformações. A investigação genética aparece, nas narrativas, como procedimento invasivo, sendo inclusive nomeada dessa maneira por profissional de saúde que acompanhou a gravidez de uma das mães. É apontada, ainda, como desnecessária, frente ao grande número de exames, consultas, procedimentos e cirurgias aos quais crianças nascidas com fissuras labiopalatinas são submetidas desde o momento de seu nascimento. / Introduction: The initial impact of the birth of a child with malformation is sometimes so great that family members spend a great deal of time and energy to meet the child\'s first demands for treatment and rehabilitation, which makes them investigate further related to malformation. Rationale: Knowing the opinions of family members of children born with cleft lip and palate about treatment can contribute to the development of more inclusive public policies for FLP patients and to improve treatment and research protocols, including genetic counseling and actions to increase the bank genetic. The caregivers\' experience in policy development allows the prevention of diseases and disorders associated with the occurrence of cleft lip and palate. Objectives: To analyze the experiences of family members of children born with cleft lip and palate about the treatment and guidelines received about the care of children born with this malformation. Method: This is a qualitative study designed for analysis under the Discourse Analysis technique from the testimonies of 11 (eleven) mothers of children with FLP and who share a site oriented to family members and caregivers of children with FLP malformation. The categorical thematic analysis was chosen as the structuring axis of the findings. Results: Five types of (and for) mothers\' reports were identified: (1) messages of encouragement and overcoming; (2) information messages; (3) personal reports of both individuals born with cleft lip and palate and relatives of these; (4) messages with photographs, including before and after restorative surgeries; and (5) member interaction messages in the comments, related to other issues that arise in the course of the publication of the comments. Conclusions: The report of emotional upheavals is frequent in the narratives, with mention of anguish and despair, but the feeling of resilience and hope is present as an intrinsic component of the feeling of motherhood. The discovery of the diagnosis during pregnancy or even the suspicion that the child may have cleft lip and palate in function of other cases in the family seem to minimize the impact of the news. Messages of conflict between the research participants and health professionals, the parents of the children, are shown in the messages, both in terms of professional conduct and treatment. Genetic research itself is surrounded by contradictions, uncertainties and disinformation. Genetic research appears in the narratives as an invasive procedure, being even named in this way by a health professional who followed the pregnancy of one of the mothers. It is also pointed out as unnecessary, given the large number of exams, consultations, procedures and surgeries to which children born with cleft lip and palate are submitted from the moment of their birth.

Cette recherche doctorale vise une meilleure compréhension des facteurs sous-tendant les phénomènes de conservation et de dépossession des biens de consommation, et se focalise plus spécifiquement sur le comportement de dépossession volontaire de vente d’occasion C to C (Consumer to Consumer). L’état de l’art de ce champ d’études, peu développé en comportement du consommateur, met en exergue des manques conceptuels et empiriques que nous investiguons au travers de trois axes de recherche : 1) les comportements du consommateur à l’égard des possessions dont il n’a plus l’utilité ; 2) les mécanismes motivationnels en œuvre dans la dépossession volontaire des biens via la vente d’occasion ; 3) les profils des consommateurs s’improvisant vendeurs, que nous nommons les «consommerçants» (contraction de «consommateur» et «commerçant»). Cinq études qualitatives exploratoires sont réalisées - une netnographie, deux vagues d’entretiens semi-directifs, un focus group, des entretiens d’expert- puis complétées par deux collectes de données quantitatives (N=127 et N=646). Le construit de Motivations à la Vente d’Occasion (MVO) apparait notamment lié au choix du circuit de vente (virtuel ou physique). Les analyses confirmatoires menées au moyen de modèles de premier et second ordre révèlent quatre dimensions du construit : récréationnelle, économique, générative, et critique. A partir de l'élaboration de l'échelle de mesure des MVO présentant des qualités psychométriques satisfaisantes (fiabilité et validité convergente, discriminante et prédictive), et des variables sociodémographiques, psychologiques et comportementales mobilisées, quatre profils de consommerçants sont identifiés. / This doctoral research aims at understanding the underlying factors associated with conservation and dispossession of consumer goods. We particularly focus on voluntary dispossession behavior through C to C (Consumer to Consumer) secondhand resale. The literature on this topic is underdeveloped by consumer behavior researchers. We address these theoretical and empirical gaps along three main research axes: 1) consumer behavior towards possessions of which they have no further use; 2) motivational mechanisms associated with voluntary dispossession through secondhand resale; 3) a typology analysis of consumers who improvise as salesmen (we classify them as “consommerçants”, by means of a French neologism combining the terms “consumer” and “tradesman” ). Five exploratory qualitative studies – a netnography, two series of semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and expert interviews – are carried out, and supplemented by two quantitative data collections (N=127 and N=646). Among other primary results, the Secondhand Selling Motivations construct (SSM) is related to the choice of distribution channel (virtual or physical). Moreover, confirmatory analyses conducted via first and second order measurement models reveals four dimensions defining this construct : recreational, economic, generative, and critical. Through the use of the SSM measurement scale, which demonstrates satisfactory psychometric qualities (reliability, as well as convergent, discriminate and predictive validity), and other demographical, psychological and behavioral variables, we establish four profiles of consommerçants via cluster analysis.

Introduction: Over recent decades, there has been an increase in the availability and use of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) all over the world. They include several classes of chemicals that mimic the effects of illicit drugs and have been purposefully introduced into the market to circumvent or undermine the purpose of legal regulation. Currently, there is information lacking on the pharmacology of these substances; however, the increasing number of cases and outbreaks of intoxications/deaths is becoming a cause for deepening concern. Multi-disciplinary research in the fields of biology, chemistry, clinical medicine and web analysis is needed to develop responses against this tidal wave. Aim: The overall aim of this project is to gain insights into pharmacological, neurochemical and molecular properties of selected NPS to provide a reliable background needed for detection, assessment, and management of NPS-related harms. A range of approaches and methodologies was employed and a spectrum of different fields of knowledge has been engaged to gain some understanding into the complex multi-faceted phenomenon of NPS. Methods: Different substances have been selected as targets for the present project according to the clinical pattern of toxicity raised by their worldwide use and the lack of scientific knowledge available about them. The methods employed were: in vitro quantitative autoradiography (to evaluate the binding properties of the novel SCs BB-22, 5F-PB-22, 5F-AKB-48 and STS-135 at the cannabinoid receptor type 1 and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor; and the binding properties of the synthetic stimulants 5-IT and 2-DPMP at the dopamine transporter in rat brain slices); in vitro Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (to assess the effects of BB-22 on evoked dopamine efflux and dopamine re-uptake half-life in nucleus accumbens brain slices); in vivo microdialysis (to monitor dopamine release in terminal areas of the reward system after acute administration of the synthetic cannabinoids BB-22, 5F-PB-22, 5F-AKB-48 and STS-135; the dieting aid compound 2,4-DNP; the synthetic stimulants 2-DPMP and D2PM in freely moving animals); in silico molecular docking (to investigate the intermolecular interactions of the SCs BB-22, 5F-PB-22, 5F-AKB-48 and STS-135, and other referent compounds, with a homology model of the rodent cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) and the crystal structure of the human CB1R); and a web-based analysis approach (to analyse the information provided by a range of fora communities on 4,4'-DMAR use, additionally critical reviewing the available evidence-based literature on this topic). Results: Our in vitro quantitative autoradiography studies, confirmed that the index compounds BB-22, 5F-PB-22, 5F-AKB-48 and STS-135, behave as highly potent CB1R ligands able to compete with the radioligand [3H]CP-55,940 in cortical and striatal brain slices. On the other hand, all synthetic cannabinoids tested were unable to compete with the radioligand [3H]MK-801 in the same cerebral areas, rejecting the hypothesis of their potential binding to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) at all concentrations investigated. Consistent with previous in vitro studies, 5-IT and 2-DPMP behaved as highly potent dopamine transporter (DAT) ligands able to compete with the radioligand [125 I]RTI-121 in a concentration-dependent way in the Caudate Putamen (CPu) and Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) brain slices. Notably, 2-DPMP was able to displace the radioligand in both cerebral regions, starting from lower concentrations compared to 5-IT. In vitro Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry findings demonstrated that local application of the synthetic cannabinoid BB-22 in brain slices, was unable to change evoked dopamine efflux and dopamine reuptake time-constant in the NAc shell at any doses tested. The results obtained would suggest the relative contributions of complex neuronal circuits, either within or outside the NAc, whose modulation would interfere with the interactions between BB-22 and dopaminergic neurons and represent critical pathways accounting for some of the rewarding properties of BB-22 exposure. In vivo microdialysis outcomes suggested that all SCs tested could increase dopamine release in the NAc shell at specific doses, while no changes in dopamine output were observed in other areas of the reward system, namely NAc core and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFCx) after BB-22 administration. These outcomes provided a circumstantial pre-clinical evidence for a greater putative abuse liability of SCs compared to the natural compound found in cannabis (Δ9‐THC). Furthermore, the acute treatment with 2,4-DNP did not cause any change in dopamine release in the NAc shell and CPu rejecting the hypothesis of psychoactivity of this substance at the dose tested. On the other hand, the synthetic stimulant 2-DPMP elicited a comparable increase of dopamine (DA) release in the NAc shell and CPu at the higher doses tested, while D2PM caused a selective increase of DA release in the NAc shell, providing a circumstantial preclinical evidence for a putative abuse liability of this compound at the highest dose assessed. The in silico molecular docking studies demonstrated that the SCs BB-22, 5F-PB-22, 5F-AKB-48 and STS-135 interact with CB1 receptor residues that, according to previous mutation and computational studies, are considered crucial for synthetic cannabinoid binding recognition. Additionally, they share some interacting residues with other aminoalkylindole derivatives (e.g. WIN-55,212-2). The web-based analysis focused on 4,4'-DMAR, suggested that fora members co-operate in exchanging an extensive body of knowledge about this drug, and the recurring topics of discussion include: routes of administration and dosages; desired and undesired effects; comparison and association with other drugs and medications; overall impression; provision of harm reduction advice. This approach has been useful to better understand some of the clinical and psychopharmacological issues pertaining to 4,4'-DMAR. Conclusions: Overall, these studies provided new pharmacological, neurochemical and molecular knowledge on a range of Novel Psychoactive Substances essential for identifying potential therapeutical approaches against their use/abuse. The novelty of this project lies in the adoption of a multi-disciplinary approach involving a range of methodologies from different areas of expertise (neurobiology, pharmacology, chemistry, netnography) all integrated to clarify some aspects of the index NPS, which were not yet available in the current literature. Additional studies are needed to better explain short and long-term effects of the index NPS, their abuse potential, and their interactions with other drugs of abuse.

<p>The Swedish election year of 2010 has just begun and the political actors are mobilizing their communication efforts to win the votes of the public. The political campaigns of 2010 have the potential to be the first where a new channel for political communication has the potential to make a difference – the social media. This paper aims to describe in what ways a Member of Parliament, Nina Larsson (FP), together with the PR-agency Hello Clarice are using social media to conduct political campaigning on the web. It also aims to study if the professional consultants of Hello Clarice have any influence over Nina Larsson’s political communication.</p><p>The theoretical framework which is the base for this study are theories of an extended public sphere in the age of mediation. The information age has created new forms of interaction between humans over geographical distance which also is a key starting-point in Manuel Castells theories of the network society. This theory is therefore a theoretical foundation of this paper. The paper also uses theories of political communication and the idea of the professionalization of political communication. The research was conducted with a netnographic approach with observational studies of Nina Larsson’s two blogs and her activities on the social network Twitter. As a compliment to the observational studies research has also been conducted trough qualitative interviews with both Nina Larsson and representatives from the PR-agency Hello Clarice.</p><p>The results show that Nina Larsson’s political communication has to a degree been affected by the professional consultants of Hello Clarice. The paper has also shown an indication of the potential of social media in use of strategic political communication, in which different channels serve with different purposes. Our research has also shown that in this specific case social media can decrease the communicative distance between politician and citizen.</p> / <p>Valåret 2010 har precis tagit sin början och de politiska aktörerna mobiliserar sina kommunikationsinsatser för att på bästa sätt kunna vinna väljarnas förtroende och i slutändan röster. Årets valrörelse kan också bli den första där en ny kanal för politisk kommunikation är av betydelse – de sociala medierna. Denna uppsats syftar till att beskriva på vilka sätt en riksdagsledamot, Nina Larsson (FP), tillsammans med en kommunikationsbyrå, Hello Clarice, arbetar för att bedriva politiskt kampanjarbete i de sociala medierna. Uppsatsens mål är också att undersöka om kommunikationsbyrån påverkar de politiska budskap som Nina Larsson kommunicerar i de sociala medierna. </p><p>För att skapa förståelse för det som studeras baserar sig studien på ett övergripande plan i olika teoretiska synsätt om utvidgningen av det offentliga rummet som skett i samband med medieutvecklingen. Informationssamhällets utbredning har skapat nya förutsättningar för interaktion mellan människor i ett geografiskt avstånd. Manuel Castells teorier om nätverkssamhällets framväxt, i vilket dessa interaktiva aktiviteter sker, är därför också en övergripande teoretisk utgångspunkt för studien. För att skapa förståelse för de aktiviteter som studeras grundar sig studien också i teorier om politisk kommunikation och tankesätt om professionaliseringen av den politiska kommunikationen. En netnografisk ansats har använts för att bedriva observationsstudier av Nina Larssons två bloggar och av hennes konto på mikrobloggen Twitter. Studien har också kompletterats genom kvalitativa intervjuer med Nina Larsson och med representanter från kommunikationsbyrån Hello Clarice. </p><p>Studiens resultat visar att Nina Larssons politiska budskap delvis har påverkats av kommunikationsbyrån Hello Clarice. Studien visar också de sociala mediernas potential för att bedriva strategisk politisk kommunikation där de olika kanalerna som Nina Larsson kontrollerar tjänar olika syften. Syften som sammantaget ska stärka de politiska mål som Nina Larsson har. Våra observationer av Nina Larssons kanaler visar också att de sociala medierna kan fungera som ett verktyg för att minska det kommunikativa avståndet mellan medborgare och folkvald, vilket i detta specifika fall visat sig genom att Nina Larsson visat en vilja till dubbelriktad kommunikation.</p>

The Swedish election year of 2010 has just begun and the political actors are mobilizing their communication efforts to win the votes of the public. The political campaigns of 2010 have the potential to be the first where a new channel for political communication has the potential to make a difference – the social media. This paper aims to describe in what ways a Member of Parliament, Nina Larsson (FP), together with the PR-agency Hello Clarice are using social media to conduct political campaigning on the web. It also aims to study if the professional consultants of Hello Clarice have any influence over Nina Larsson’s political communication. The theoretical framework which is the base for this study are theories of an extended public sphere in the age of mediation. The information age has created new forms of interaction between humans over geographical distance which also is a key starting-point in Manuel Castells theories of the network society. This theory is therefore a theoretical foundation of this paper. The paper also uses theories of political communication and the idea of the professionalization of political communication. The research was conducted with a netnographic approach with observational studies of Nina Larsson’s two blogs and her activities on the social network Twitter. As a compliment to the observational studies research has also been conducted trough qualitative interviews with both Nina Larsson and representatives from the PR-agency Hello Clarice. The results show that Nina Larsson’s political communication has to a degree been affected by the professional consultants of Hello Clarice. The paper has also shown an indication of the potential of social media in use of strategic political communication, in which different channels serve with different purposes. Our research has also shown that in this specific case social media can decrease the communicative distance between politician and citizen. / Valåret 2010 har precis tagit sin början och de politiska aktörerna mobiliserar sina kommunikationsinsatser för att på bästa sätt kunna vinna väljarnas förtroende och i slutändan röster. Årets valrörelse kan också bli den första där en ny kanal för politisk kommunikation är av betydelse – de sociala medierna. Denna uppsats syftar till att beskriva på vilka sätt en riksdagsledamot, Nina Larsson (FP), tillsammans med en kommunikationsbyrå, Hello Clarice, arbetar för att bedriva politiskt kampanjarbete i de sociala medierna. Uppsatsens mål är också att undersöka om kommunikationsbyrån påverkar de politiska budskap som Nina Larsson kommunicerar i de sociala medierna.  För att skapa förståelse för det som studeras baserar sig studien på ett övergripande plan i olika teoretiska synsätt om utvidgningen av det offentliga rummet som skett i samband med medieutvecklingen. Informationssamhällets utbredning har skapat nya förutsättningar för interaktion mellan människor i ett geografiskt avstånd. Manuel Castells teorier om nätverkssamhällets framväxt, i vilket dessa interaktiva aktiviteter sker, är därför också en övergripande teoretisk utgångspunkt för studien. För att skapa förståelse för de aktiviteter som studeras grundar sig studien också i teorier om politisk kommunikation och tankesätt om professionaliseringen av den politiska kommunikationen. En netnografisk ansats har använts för att bedriva observationsstudier av Nina Larssons två bloggar och av hennes konto på mikrobloggen Twitter. Studien har också kompletterats genom kvalitativa intervjuer med Nina Larsson och med representanter från kommunikationsbyrån Hello Clarice.  Studiens resultat visar att Nina Larssons politiska budskap delvis har påverkats av kommunikationsbyrån Hello Clarice. Studien visar också de sociala mediernas potential för att bedriva strategisk politisk kommunikation där de olika kanalerna som Nina Larsson kontrollerar tjänar olika syften. Syften som sammantaget ska stärka de politiska mål som Nina Larsson har. Våra observationer av Nina Larssons kanaler visar också att de sociala medierna kan fungera som ett verktyg för att minska det kommunikativa avståndet mellan medborgare och folkvald, vilket i detta specifika fall visat sig genom att Nina Larsson visat en vilja till dubbelriktad kommunikation.

The dynamic development of new technologies influences consumers in many different ways reaching far beyond the shift in consumption patterns, challenging the way consumers live their lives. The role of new information technologies is continually growing in our daily lives changing the way we see the self and the world around us. Consequently, the advent of the computer culture incites a radical rethinking of who we are and the nature of being human, which clearly illustrates the postmodern age. As a result, over the past decades consumer research has moved away from simply viewing consumers as information processors to consumers as socially conceptualized beings. This Consumer Culture Theory (CCT) movement views consumers and consumer behaviour as articulations of meanings and materiality within the productive of complex cultural milieu. This ethnographic thesis focuses on the three-dimensional virtual world of Second Life, which is a 'Real Life' simulation and where the residents represent themselves through 'avatars', creating a kind of virtual materiality. This raises interesting questions for consumer researchers, not just about how consumption is enacted, produced and articulated within this environment, but also in relation to theoretical and methodological issues. More specifically, this thesis critically examines the development of interpretive consumer research and the emergence of the Consumer Culture Theory framework in the context of the juxtaposition of reality and hyperreality and takes a position which goes beyond the 'body in the net/physical body' binary. Therefore, this thesis places the 'avatar-as-consumer' at the centre of the research focus. The current thesis develops a theoretical framework which examines the role of consumption in resolving key paradoxes. Moreover, it extends the netnography framework from mainly text based research to the visual characteristics of virtual worlds so that it can be useful for the study of complex online environments and as a result, how the role of the researcher goes beyond netnography to virtualography is discussed.

This is a study that aims to investigate what is being spoken about on an internet forum created for people who suffer from extreme loneliness. The study aims to answer questions regarding the users identity and general opinions regarding live a life of more intense solitude. The basic scientific approach of the study is centered around two terms, taken from Howard S. Beckers book "outsiders" (1997). These two terms are "outsiders" and "deviant careers", both dealing with the subject of deviant behavior. The method used to collect data is a relatively new method known as "netnography". This new method centers around studying subcultures on the internet. The main method of analyzing the collected data was the method known as qualitative content analysis, which is a method that centers on condensing and coding various parts of a text, so called "meaning units", and then categorizing these units into categories and themes for analysis. The main findings where that the users saw themselves as deviants, and had no problem in doing so. However, it was also found that varying opinions regarding what is "better" between following the norms of society, and to lead a life of this particular form of deviancy was a topic the users seemed to be divided on. Loneliness was a central part of their identity and a lot of the users did seem to favor living lives of isolation, although a lot of users also seemed to want more social interaction with society. A consensus regarding what was "the good life" was as such relatively hard to find, but there nevertheless seemed to be a strong sense of solidarity between the users against what was deemed to be "the normal people".

Bakgrund och problemformulering - Vi har valt att studera och analysera i vilket avseende det sker user innovation på ett forum skapat av företaget Salesforce. Forumet är ett brand community för användare som utvecklar Salesforce tjänster. Frågeställningarna behandlar om det sker olika typer av user innovation och vad det är som driver användarna till att innovera på det forum vi har valt att studera. Vår studie syftar till att bidra med en bredare kunskap och förståelse kring ämnet då det finns begränsad forskning kring user innovation inom online brand communities idag. Teori - Begreppet brand communities förklaras utifrån Muniz och O’Guinns (2001) synsätt som innebär att ett online brand community är en samlingsplats på internet dedikerat till ett specifikt varumärke. På vårt valda brand community innoverar användarna och vi utgår från Gault (2012) för att redogöra för begreppet innovation som i sin tur möjliggör en fördjupad förståelse för user innovation. Vi utgår från en definition av user innovation som innebär att användare innoverar för sin egen skull (von Hippel &amp; Euchner 2013). Metodologi - Vi eftersträvar en djupare förståelse för user innovation på vårt specifika forum och då lämpar sig en kvalitativ explorativ ansats bäst. Inspiration har hämtats från Kozinets (2006, 2011) kvalitativa metod netnografi som innebär en deltagande-observerande forskning på nätet. Resultat - I detta avsnitt presenterar vi de likheter och skillnader som Salesforce forum har med Muniz och O’Guinns (2001) kriterier för vad ett brand community är. Vidare presenteras vårt resultat i form av två kategorier av user innovations: modifierade innovationer och skapande innovationer. Kategorierna förklaras och illustreras med exempel som klargör deras innebörd. Analys och diskussion - I analysen diskuterar vi vad som driver användarna på vårt valda forum att innovera och analyserar likheter och skillnader med redan befintliga teorier kring user innovation. Vi resonerar oss fram till en ny term vi väljer att kalla user co-innovation samt spekulerar i huruvida innovationerna genererar någonting för Salesforce. Slutsats - Vårt teoretiska bidrag till forskningen presenteras genom vår modell som illustrerar sambandet mellan user innovation, user co-innovation och våra två kategorier. Modellen innefattar vilka användare som innoverar, vilkafaktorer som driver dem till att innovera och resultatet av user co-innovation på vårt valda brand community.Nyckelbegrepp - Innovation, user innovation, lead users, brand community, online community, netnografi. / Background and problematization -We have chosen to study to what extent user innovation occurs on a forum created by the company Salesforce. This forum is a brand community devoted to user development of Salesforce services. Our main research question is whether there occur different types of user innovations on the brand community we are studying and what it is that drives these users to innovate. Our study aims to contribute with a wider knowledge and understanding of user innovation on brand communities since the research of today on the subject is limited. Theory - In this chapter we explain the concept of brand community based on Muniz and O’Guinns (2001) definition which implies that an online brand community is an online meeting place for people dedicated to a specific brand. User innovation occurs on our chosen brand community and we base ourselves on Gaults (2012) theory to explain innovation in order to explain the term user innovation. We use one definition of user innovation which implies that users innovate for themselves (von Hippel &amp; Euchner 2013). Methodology - We seek a deeper understanding of user innovation on our specific brand community and that makes a qualitative exploratory approach best suited. Inspiration has been taken from Kozinets (2006, 2011) netnography which is a qualitative method and involves participatory observation research online. Results - In this chapter we present the similarities and differences that we have been able to identify between Salesforce forum and the criteria for a brand community set by Muniz and O’Guinn (2001). Furthermore we introduce our result which consists of two categories of user innovations: modified innovations and creativity innovations. The categories are explained and illustrated with examples that clarify their meaning. Analysis and discussion - In this chapter we discuss what drives users on our chosen brand community to innovate and analyze similarities and differences between already existing theory on user innovation. Our discussion results in a new term which we choose to name user co-innovation. We also speculate whether the user innovations generate something of value for Salesforce. Conclusion - Our theoretical contribution to the subject is presented by our model that illustrates the connection between user innovation, user co-innovation and our two categories. The model includes which users that innovate, the factors driving them to innovate and the results of user co-innovation on our chosen brand community.