Today there is limited research about the health of newly arrived adolescents. It is important to pay attention to health at an early age, since the foundation for a behaviour often remain in the adult life. The study was a sub project in a major health project in Norrbotten. The purpose of the study was to describe and understand newly arrived adolescents’ experiences of health. The study used the qualitative method photovoice. Seven newly arrived adolescents participated in photovoice which was based on the health promotional sentence "what makes me feel good and makes me learn what is important for me to be able to live a good life". The data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. The result formed three sub themes; "maintains and creates relationships", "expresses emotions and goals images” and "uses coping strategies for recovery" which then developed into a main theme "togetherness, mood and coping strategies describes newly arrived adolescents’ experiences of health". Overall, the results showed that the newly arrived adolescents had a holistic perspective on experiences of health, which included social, mental and physical well-being. / Idag finns det begränsad forskning om nyanlända ungdomars hälsa. Det är viktigt att uppmärksamma hälsa i tidig ålder, då grunden till ett beteende ofta består i det vuxna livet. Studien var ett delprojekt i ett större hälsoprojekt i Norrbotten. Syftet med studien var att beskriva och förstå erfarenheter av hälsa hos nyanlända ungdomar. I studien används den kvalitativa metoden photovoice. Sju nyanlända ungdomar deltog i photovoice som var baserad på den hälsopromotiva meningen “det som får mig att må bra och gör att jag lär mig vad som är viktigt för att jag ska kunna leva ett gott liv”. Data analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet formade tre underteman; “upprätthåller och skapar relationer” “uttrycker känslor och målbilder” och “använder copingstrategier för återhämtning” som sedan utvecklades till ett huvudtema “samhörighet, sinnesstämning och copingstrategier beskriver nyanlända ungdomars erfarenheter av hälsa”. Sammantaget visade resultatet att de nyanlända ungdomarna hade ett holistiskt perspektiv på erfarenheter av hälsa som innefattande socialt, mentalt och fysisk välmående. / Hälsoskolan

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The shortage of appropriate student housing in South Africa has been under the spotlight for the past few years. This has been made explicit by the Report on the Ministerial committee for the review of the provision of student housing at South African universities, revealing shocking realities regarding the State of student residences and deplorable conditions under which many students are forced to live. The inequalities in higher education as a result of the legacy of apartheid reflect glaring gaps in resources between Historically Advantaged Institutions (HAIs) and Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs). The inequity present within higher education impacts on student learning, as HAIs have more resources than HDIs, giving students attending these institutions a different exposure to opportunities. Having a safe, conducive space that facilitates learning is key to ensuring that students are able to learn properly. This research study uses the work of Nancy Fraser to understand how her notion of social justice and the ability to participate as equals (participatory parity) relates to residence life at a HDI in South Africa. Fraser contends that economic, cultural and political dimensions influence participatory parity and either enable or impede the achievement of social justice. The research study considers what suitable institutional arrangements need to be put in place to facilitate more equitable participation for students to enable them to flourish at university. This study is located at the student residences of the University of the Western Cape (UWC). A participatory action research (PAR) design was used, with the study conducted in two phases. The first phase targeted 40 students across UWC residences and used Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) techniques, including the ‘River of Life’ and ‘Community Mapping’. The second phase, involving the same 40 students, comprised a Photovoice process and individual interviews. Nancy Fraser’s participatory parity framework and the dimensions was used as a lens to make sense of the data. The findings of this study revealed several constraints and enablements which affected student learning, namely economic, cultural and political dimensions. The economic dimension revealed constraints relating to poorly resourced facilities, insufficient and ineffective services and problematic technology. Students reported how maldistribution of resources affected them when the lack of those resources prevented them from participating as equals in relation to their peers. The cultural dimension indicated whose status at residences held esteem and whose did not, and consequently what perceived attributes are valued and devalued at residences. Differently abled students, students struggling with poverty, students living with mental health issues, LGBTIQ issues, issues of gender, as well as foreign national students, found themselves being devalued, meaning that they were misrecognised because of their status. The political dimension was used to examine whether students felt that they had a voice in decision making and whether they felt that their needs and opinions were represented. The study also examined whether students were misframed. Misframing occurs when students are excluded from the frame of justice and determines whether they count and have a valid claim to justice. Foreign national students reported experiencing misframing at residences since, in some respects, they did not qualify as claimants for rights. The study highlights how Fraser’s dimensions are mutually intertwined and reciprocally influence and reinforce one another but that none is reducible to another. Referring to each of the dimensions, the study examines affirmative and transformative strategies for remedying injustices, focusing on existing strategies as well as possible strategies which could bring about participatory parity for students. Finally, the study presents a list of recommendations which the university could consider to improve student learning at residences.

This dissertation combines the empowering methodology of photovoice with focus groups and in-depth interviews, to develop a contextual understanding of the meaning of breast cancer for Aboriginal women. Photovoice is a participatory action research method, as well as a process towards health promotion. The participants in this study took pictures to document their realities and engaged in critical reflection individually and in a group process, using images and stories to advocate community and policy changes. A combination of epidemiological, sociological, and anti-oppressive theoretical lenses were used to analyze the womens stories and data, which served to acknowledge heterogeneity, while integrating multiple social contexts.<p> The emerging framework revealed multi-faceted identities, commonalities of situation, and prominent social forces that affect identity and cancer experience. Interpretation of the womens stories and pictures resulted in four general themes: 1) adjusting to physical and psychological changes; 2) the need for culturally relevant sources of support; 3) shifting identities; and 4) personal and political advocacy/policy directions. Prominent social forces include: culturally derived meanings of identity and sexuality, cultural and historical experiences/traditions of Aboriginal peoples, racism and racial stigmas, and socio-economic inequalities. Breast cancer experiences are shown to be significantly linked to history and the impact of colonization and neo-colonialism. Findings also point to the importance of recognizing heterogeneity, which does not minimize the impact of colonial histories and oppression, but points to the importance of employing an anti-oppressive theoretical lens and research framework, able to handle complex intersecting social forces and multiple agencies. These findings provide support for using the photovoice methodology with Aboriginal women, especially for its ability to shift power from researchers to insiders, privilege Indigenous knowledges, and for providing opportunities for critical and multiple tellings. The dissertation concludes by introducing a governmentality lens, which questions whether photovoice methods can address the social and historical problems at the level of policy. This study directs our attention to the need for further research on: 1) the link between breast cancer experiences to historical, political, and social contexts of lives of Aboriginal peoples; and 2) the potential of photovoice methods to affect policy and social justice.

This dissertation combines the empowering methodology of photovoice with focus groups and in-depth interviews, to develop a contextual understanding of the meaning of breast cancer for Aboriginal women. Photovoice is a participatory action research method, as well as a process towards health promotion. The participants in this study took pictures to document their realities and engaged in critical reflection individually and in a group process, using images and stories to advocate community and policy changes. A combination of epidemiological, sociological, and anti-oppressive theoretical lenses were used to analyze the womens stories and data, which served to acknowledge heterogeneity, while integrating multiple social contexts.<p> The emerging framework revealed multi-faceted identities, commonalities of situation, and prominent social forces that affect identity and cancer experience. Interpretation of the womens stories and pictures resulted in four general themes: 1) adjusting to physical and psychological changes; 2) the need for culturally relevant sources of support; 3) shifting identities; and 4) personal and political advocacy/policy directions. Prominent social forces include: culturally derived meanings of identity and sexuality, cultural and historical experiences/traditions of Aboriginal peoples, racism and racial stigmas, and socio-economic inequalities. Breast cancer experiences are shown to be significantly linked to history and the impact of colonization and neo-colonialism. Findings also point to the importance of recognizing heterogeneity, which does not minimize the impact of colonial histories and oppression, but points to the importance of employing an anti-oppressive theoretical lens and research framework, able to handle complex intersecting social forces and multiple agencies. These findings provide support for using the photovoice methodology with Aboriginal women, especially for its ability to shift power from researchers to insiders, privilege Indigenous knowledges, and for providing opportunities for critical and multiple tellings. The dissertation concludes by introducing a governmentality lens, which questions whether photovoice methods can address the social and historical problems at the level of policy. This study directs our attention to the need for further research on: 1) the link between breast cancer experiences to historical, political, and social contexts of lives of Aboriginal peoples; and 2) the potential of photovoice methods to affect policy and social justice.

Color is used in everything we see and do and it often can be used for effect and representation, particularly on maps and transportation signage. This study explores the issues that the color blind population exhibits when viewing these maps and signs. Seeing that 8%#37; of the male population is afflicted with some form of color blindness, it is pertinent that research reflect these issues and take into consideration the Right to Receive Information for this population. A qualitative method using Photovoice and interviews was used to determine whether this population considers itself having a disability and what solutions can be found to assist with issues of seeing colors on transportation maps and signage. Results show that although half of the participants feel they have a disability, they do not want to be categorized with other disabilities or have restrictions placed on them. The overall consensus regarding maps was to use less colors and simplify. One solution to the issue of being able to read maps and signage was to instill the ColorADD Symbol System in the U.S. comprehensively. This study provides insight to the issues faced by the color blind population regarding Right to Receive Information for maps and signage, including alternate solutions to providing color blind people with sufficient materials. The significance of this research can be used to provide safer transportation signage for driving and better maps for traveling.

The purpose of this study was to explore Photovoice methodology, a relatively new and increasingly popular form of Participatory Action Research (PAR). Photovoice was examined in order to determine whether or not it might assist art educators in expanding access to the arts for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Photovoice has been used in a variety of fields to address a broad range of issues, however, few Photovoice projects have been conducted to investigate topics in art education. This study centered on the following questions: “What are the potential benefits of Photovoice?” and “How might Photovoice assist in the development of a more accessible art education program for people with autism?” For this study, I interviewed four individuals who had conceptualized, organized, and/or facilitated one or more Photovoice projects. Each was asked to discuss their research background as well as describe their interests and experience conducting Photovoice. Using content analysis to identify predominant themes encoded in the interview data, I compiled a set of codes and categories in order to highlight the most salient features of Photovoice from the perspective of the Participants. This data was then compared to “best practices” in art education. “Best practices” establish guidelines for the education of students with disabilities, including students with ASD. Analysis of the interview and “best practices” data revealed four themes: (a) The importance of planning and organization,(b) factoring in technical issues, (c) structuring participation, and (d) therapy vs. empowerment. Through the evaluation of these four themes, I formulated several key assertions to support the claim that Photovoice will not likely be incorporated into the “best practices” curriculum. However, Photovoice may still have a place in the art classroom as a means to inform and enrich practice on a small scale. / text

Organic farming has often been described as a single unified entity. Further, this unified praxis is often discussed as an alternative approach to agriculture and as a particular social and environmental movement. There has been increasing acknowledgement in academia that there are many different organics, or versions, or knowledges of organic, but what this means to individual farmers and farms remains to be explored. This is the point of departure for this work. This is an interdisciplinary project situated at the intersection of human geography, cultural anthropology, and political science, informed by and engaged with actor-network theory and visual methodologies. My methods include ethnographic participant observation, interviews, and photovoice. For this project I visited 17 small-scale organic farms in southern British Columbia. My findings indicate that different ideas, opinions, and narratives of organic abound, but most importantly that reconciling difference and nostalgia amid vast change was an overwhelming theme for the farmers and farms in this project.

A qualitative phenomenological study incorporating Photovoice was conducted to gain insight into the lived experience of patients with end-stage heart failure (ESHF). Seven participants were recruited and in-depth open-ended interviews were conducted with all participants. Three of the seven informants also opted to take part in the Photovoice portion of the project. “Working to preserve a sense of self” emerged as the essence of living with ESHF and was supported by three themes: i) the work of managing a failing and unreliable body, ii) the work of choreographing daily living; and iii) the work of charting the final chapter of one’s life. The findings from this study provide healthcare professionals with empirically grounded information and insights about the needs and everyday challenges individuals living with ESHF experience, and how clinicians can best support them. Such information is essential in order to plan meaningful, holistic, evidence-based care for ESHF patients.

A qualitative phenomenological study incorporating Photovoice was conducted to gain insight into the lived experience of patients with end-stage heart failure (ESHF). Seven participants were recruited and in-depth open-ended interviews were conducted with all participants. Three of the seven informants also opted to take part in the Photovoice portion of the project. “Working to preserve a sense of self” emerged as the essence of living with ESHF and was supported by three themes: i) the work of managing a failing and unreliable body, ii) the work of choreographing daily living; and iii) the work of charting the final chapter of one’s life. The findings from this study provide healthcare professionals with empirically grounded information and insights about the needs and everyday challenges individuals living with ESHF experience, and how clinicians can best support them. Such information is essential in order to plan meaningful, holistic, evidence-based care for ESHF patients.

Ripples of Hope is a transdisciplinary project combining the social and political history of leisure, Black feminist/womanist thought, and performance and youth development theories. This project investigates the perception, portrayal, and performance of hope from a cultural lens using narrative and performance analysis. Interview and photovoice data were collected from 12 young women in their early 20’s, emerging into adulthood. Each of the participants was born in the United States, identify as Black or African American and participated in an exploratory qualitative study in 2007-2008 entitled The HerDentity Project. Entering into the second decade of the prolific use of Hope Theory, this study illuminates the complexity and intersectionality of race, gender, age, and nationality in understanding five defining dimensions, performative spaces, and portrayals of hope. This project adds to the current body of literature on hope by exploring hope from a cultural context. In addition this project utilizes ethnodrama to highlight the important use of cultural products of performance in youth development and leisure practice.