This thesis investigates the influence of attitude on the life of an individual and the role that it can play inside and outside today’s organizations. The purpose of the thesis is to gain insight on the subject of attitude and its significance both in the life of today’s employee and on the management and leadership of today’s organizations. I will endeavor to investigate the importance of cultivating a positive attitude and the consequences of yielding to a negative attitude. I will also discuss why attitude not only can influence the firm’s progress but also the external image and advancement of the organization as well.With the abduction and narrative approaches, I will endeavor to explain the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and ways of understanding individuals’ attitudes and their influence on their overall performance. I will also attempt to address how employees in a given organization can deal with a customer who has a sour attitude. Moreover, I’ll address some of the possible causes of negative attitudes. The theoretical research will help expound on the subject matter. Through empirical research, I’ll attempt to address the fact that despite an employee’s skills and competence, positive attitude can be an added advantage.With an understanding based of my personal life experience, I’ll explain how I struggled with negative attitudes especially during my early years in Sweden and how I eventually made an attitude adjustment. My personal experience at the Sheraton will be used as a case study on the subject of attitude. Furthermore, I’ll examine some other life experiences such as the lessons I learned from my father on the subject. Besides, I’ll discuss the challenge of attitude on leadership as well. Finally, I will conclude with a discussion on the fact that attitude needs to be addressed in a good-enough approach thereby circumventing the trap of making attitude appear to be the principle aspect as this may lead to absolutism. / Uppsatsnivå: D

Tyrimo tikslas – išsiaiškinti, kurios asmenybės savybės įtakoja pozityvius asmens pokyčius, susirgus depresija ar cukrinio diabeto II tipu. Tyrime dalyvavo 228 respondentai, sergantys cukriniu diabetu arba depresija, iš kurių 183 anketos buvo tinkamos tolesniems skaičiavimams. Tarp cukriniu diabetu sergančiųjų buvo 21 (18,8 procentai) vyras ir 91 (81,3 procentai) moteris: amžiaus vidurkis 51,17 +/ - 14,648 metai. Depresija sergančiųjų buvo 71, iš kurių 26 (36,6 procentai) vyrai ir 45 (63,4 procentai) moterys: amžiaus vidurkis 46,52 +/ - 14,249 metai. Apklaustos dvi grupės žmonių: viena – sergantys depresija ir besigydantys Žiegždrių psichiatrijos ligoninės depresijos skyriuje, kiti – sergantys cukrinio diabeto II tipu ir besilankantys cukrinio diabeto draugijose, „Aronija“, „Insula“. Naudotos metodikos: LOT-R, Rosenbergo savigarbos, bendra saviveiksmingumo, atsparumo 30 teiginių, atsistatymo, suvoktos naudos skalės. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, jog asmenybės savybės labiau įtakoja pozityvų požiūrį į ligą nei sociodemografiniai rodikliai: cukrinio diabeto grupėje pozityvų požiūrį į ligą prognozuoja konstanta, atsistatymas ir amžius. Tuo tarpu depresijos grupėje pozityvų požiūrį į ligą prognozuoja konstanta ir amžius. Konstanta, neigiamas savigarbos rodiklis, teigiami atsistatymo ir amžiaus rodikliai prognozuoja pozityvų požiūrį į ligą, neišskiriant lėtinės ligos tipo. Cukrinio diabeto grupėje aukštesni savigarbos rodikliai siejasi su neigiamais dvasingumo rodikliais, aukštesni... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the study was to ascertain which personality features influence positive person‘s changes in groups of depression and diabetes II type. The subjects of the study were people positive attitude toward their chronic illness: diabetes or depression. There participated 228 respondents, but only 183 questionnaire form were available for continuing processing. 21 (18,8 percent) men and 91 (81,3 percent) women were in diabetes group. 51,17 +/ - 14,648 year was their average of age. 26 (36,6 percent) men and 45 (63,4 percent) women were in depression group. 46,52 +/ - 14,249 year was their average of age. Persons with diabetes illness were from diabetes association „Aronija“ and „Insula“ in Kaunas. Persons with depression illness were from Žiegždriai psychiatry hospital depression department. Used methods: Life Orientation Test-Revised, Rosenberg‘s Self-esteem Scale, General Self-efficacy Scale, Hardy 30 Item Scale, Resilience Scale, Perceived Benefit Scale. The results of the study showed that personality characteristics are more connected with the positive attitude toward illness than sociodemographic indicators: constant, positive resilience and age prognosticate positive attitude toward illness among diabetes patients. Constant and age prognosticate positive attitude toward illness among depression group. Constant (p < 0,001), negative self-esteem (β = -0,211, p = 0,035), positive resilience (β = 0,510, p < 0,001) and age (β = 0,253, p = 0,001) prognosticate positive... [to full text]

Muzikinio ugdymo kokybės tobulinimo prielaidos bendrojo lavinimo mokykloje Muzikos dalyko mokymas bendrojo lavinimo mokykloje yra visapusiško asmenybės ugdymo dalis. Muzikos mokymo tikslas – ugdyti kūrybišką, aktyvią, emocingą, estetinei ir kultūrinei patirčiai atvirą asmenybę, gebančią prasmingai tenkinti savo kultūrinius poreikius. Tyrimo tikslas – išsiaiškinti muzikinio ugdymo kokybės tobulinimo prielaidas bendrojo lavinimo mokykloje. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Išanalizuoti mokslinę bei metodinę literatūrą nagrinėjamos temos aspektu; 2. Atskleisti mokinių požiūrį į muzikos pamoką; 3. Atskleisti muzikos mokytojų požiūrį į muzikinio ugdymo procesą bendrojo lavinimo mokykloje; 4. Pagrįsti, kad tobulinant muzikinio ugdymo procesą, formuosime teigiamą klasių mokinių požiūrį į muzikos mokymąsi. Tyrimo metodai: mokslinės metodinės literatūros analizė; Q tipo duomenų rinkimas (anketinė apklausa); lyginamoji analize; kokybinė ir statistinė duomenų analizė; eksperimentas. Anketos parengtos dviem respondentų grupėms: 7 - 8 klasių mokiniams (260 mokinių) ir muzikos mokytojams (50). Iš atliktų tyrimų sužinojome, kad apklausus 7 – 8 klasių mokinius paaiškėjo, kad jų nuomonė į muzikos pamoką yra pakitusi, lyginant su 2006 – 2007 m. m. atliktu tyrimu. Pakartotinai mokinių požiūrio į muzikos pamokas diagnostika rodo, kad mokiniai vis palankiau vertina muzikos pamoką (teigiamai vertinančių muzikos pamoką, procentas išaugo nuo 28% iki 48% . Atlikus literatūros analizę bei empirinį tyrimą įrodyta... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Music teaching is a part of a person‘s education in comprehensive school. The aim of music teaching is to educate a creative, active, emotional personality, who is eager to achieve an aesthetical and cultural experience, and who can meet one’s cultural demands The aim of the research – to find out what are quality development assumptions of musical education in comprehensive school. Goals of the research: 1. To analyze a scientific and methodical literature of the topic; 2. To reveal children’ attitude towards music lesson; 3. To reveal music teacher’s attitude towards musical education process in comprehensive school; 4. To reason that a positive children’ attitude towards music teaching will be formed by improving on musical education process. The methods of the research: analysis of scientific and methodical literature; data gathering of Q type (questionnaire poll); comparative analysis; qualitative and statistical data analysis; experiment. Questionnaires are made for two groups of respondents: 7 – 8 form children (260 children) and music teachers (50). After the research we learn that, in comparison with the research which was made in 2006 – 2007, 7 – 8 form children’ opinion of music lesson is varied. According to diagnostics of children’ attitude towards music lessons, children increasingly appreciate music lesson (positive evaluation of a music lesson increased from 28% to 48%). After the literature analysis and empirical research, it is proved that forming a positive... [to full text]

The overall purpose of this research was to understand how consumers perceive physical environments from multi-brand fashion retail stores. According to Solomon and Rabolt (2008), a well-design of store environment can fulfill consumer’s shopping process with a pleasant, efficient and enjoyable experience. Since many researchers have proved that the store environment directs consumer’s shopping experience, by investigating consumer’s behavior with psychological and physical perceptions in a store is the approach for retailers to create more business opportunities in a competitive fashion industry today.Through literature review we know, the development of retail stores from eighteenth century until today, it changes by social, culture, economic factors as well as consumer behavior. From the history, it also illustrates how a multi-brand fashion retail store grows in today’s Swedish market. Customers’ interview is the important approach to know how consumers experience shopping and perceive the environment in the multi-brand fashion retail stores. Because of consumers’ demographic differences, the perceptions from the same store environment lead to either positive or negative feelings. By interviewing the store staffs, the companies’ management and store display strategies are provided and it is helpful to analyze and compare in parallel. The retailer applies appropriately store designing strategy to focus on a certain group of consumers is useful to find its target consumers as well as appealing to target consumer’s satisfaction with shopping experience. Based on the interview result, the perceptions both from consumers and retailers are discussed. According to the analysis of the results, recommendations are given for tangible and intangible improvements. In terms of visible improvements, the retailers may improve visual communication and lighting design in the store environment which enhances consumer’s attitude toward positive perception and exceptions. Sending positive knowledge is an invisible channel to influence consumer behavior, and it is sure that consumers are willing to learn what they are interested. Furthermore, improving visual merchandise management is an approach to compete increasing number of outlets in the market which could be achieved by professional employees and training processes.To design or create a better physical environment of multi-brand fashion retail store, it not only follows the retailer’s marketing strategy and company orientation, but also concerns for consumers’ needs toward positive influences. A consumer’s perception from a store environment decides his or her attitude and behavior. If consumers are satisfied with the store, they will tell an average of 5 other people, whereas disappointed consumers may talk to more people and never return to the store. (Hines and Bruce 2008) To develop a better physical environment of a multi-brand fashion retail store, it relies on interacting of influences between consumers and retailers. / Program: Magisterutbildning i fashion management med inriktning modemarknadsföring

The use of information and communication technologies and computerised training tools in nursing education has gained traction globally and locally. Nursing campuses in KwaZulu-Natal are yet to explore this avenue despite the existence of numerous challenges with conventional methods of teaching and learning, and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) pre-service training. Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Computerised Adaptation and Training Tool (ICATT), an e-learning tool has been identified as an innovative technology that has the potential to strengthen IMCI pre-service training and increase training coverage at nursing campuses. The aim of this study is to investigate the nursing campuses’ readiness for the use of ICATT, and to develop guidelines and a model for improving the use of ICATT at the nursing campuses. This study adopted a sequential exploratory mixed methods design and was conducted in three phases at ten nursing campuses in KwaZulu-Natal. In phases one and two, data was collected sequentially using a semi-structured interview schedule and self-administered questionnaires. The qualitative component involved seven individual administered questionnaires. The qualitative component involved seven individual interviews with campus principals, eight focus groups of nurse educators and eight focus groups of learners. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis framework was used to identify themes. In the quantitative component, data was collected from nine campus principals, 35 nurse educators and 235 learners and analysed using SPSS 23. Findings from phases one and two revealed that campus principals, nurse educators and learners had positive attitudes and identified enabling factors regarding ICATT use. Additional findings revealed that pre-existing barriers related to human, material, infrastructural and financial resources could impact on the nursing campuses, nurse educators and learners’ readiness to implement and use ICATT. Findings from phases one and two led to the development of guidelines and a model for ICATT implementation at nursing campuses. Phase three employed the Delphi method to obtain consensus opinion from 11 experts for the refinement of the guidelines. The readiness for ICATT use model and the guidelines can facilitate the successful implementation and use of ICATT. / Health Studies / Ph. D. (Health Studies)

The aim of the thesis is the support and the development of the relationship among different generations and learning among pupils of younger age and elderly people. Teaching national history in a traditional way brings two main problems. Firstly, children learn history through abstract terms, which they are not acquainted with. It is followed by another problem, when the presentation for pupils is not in detail and they cannot imagine most of the historical situations. Memories of contemporary witnesses can help us to solve these problems, because thanks to these memories pupils can better understand historical situations. Therefore, it is necessary to find and use such a way of teaching history in the current education, which would be interesting for pupils. Such a way would encourage an interest of pupils about history and further education. Thanks to this, they can gain different points of view about the background of their family, the place of birth and also about the Czech history. Inner motivation is what we want to achieve. By using activities which stimulate pupils we can develop critical thinking while teaching history. The first part of my thesis deals with theoretical knowledge of the authors who concern with the themes of the concept of memory with all its aspects, historical thinking...

The purpose of this study was to use elements for developing teacher identity, personal philosophy, beliefs about teaching and learning, and reflection to frame an examination of the effect of Positive-Attitude Cues (PACs) on teacher candidates’(n = 135) mathematics anxiety and expressive writing. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment (PACs) or control group (No-PAC) and their dispositions about mathematics were examined using the Revised Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS-R); which had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.96 and an expressive writing task before and after the intervention. A significant main effect of test time showed that participants in the posttest condition: (M = 67.54, SD = 19.06) responded with less total mathematics anxiety than participants in the pretest condition (M = 73.22, SD = 19.78), F (1, 133) = 40.61, p < .001, d = -.29; (M = 41.56, SD = 11.82) responded with less learning mathematics anxiety than participants in the pretest condition (M = 45.36, SD = 12.98), F (1, 133) = 38.56, p < .001, d = -.31; and (M = 25.98, SD = 8.03) responded with less mathematics test anxiety than participants in the pretest condition (M = 27.88, SD = 7.74), F (1, 133) = 29.55, p < .001, d = -.24. Also, there was a significant increase in the percentage of positive expressive writing tasks by PAC participants pre (N = 27) (M = .40, SD = .49) versus post (N = 56) (M = .84, SD = .37) intervention; p < .001 (2-sided); and no-PAC participants pre (N = 24) (M = .35, SD = .48) versus post (N = 60) (M = .88, SD = .33) intervention; p < .001 (2-sided). The results of this study can inform leadership and policy related to educator preparation.

Text in English / The aim of the current study is to provide detailed information regarding individuals’ turning-point experiences, in order to understand the psychological and spiritual aspects involved in moving beyond a significant low point towards a significant high point in one’s life. It seems that inadequate information regarding formal studies about this phenomenon exists in literature, which this study endeavours to address. Thereby, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted amongst nineteen South African citizens, who were purposefully and conveniently selected from the diverse population of South Africa. Individual participants confirmed that they had experienced significant low points from which they had been able to move to reach a significant high point. Through interviews, River-of-life (RoL) drawings and a short background information questionnaire (SBIQ), participants were able to provide information on their experiences. The participants’ stories, obtained during the interviews, were transcribed, and then triangulated with information obtained from the RoL drawings, completed SBIQ’s, researcher notes and other additional sources, during the analysis phase. Thematic analysis was performed on individuals’ stories to obtain the research participants’ themes, which provided the aspects involved in their turning-point experiences. In-depth analysis of all participants’ stories produced a theme-model consisting of main and unique themes. Unique themes identified by the study supported the main themes. Themes highlighted through the study included minding oneself, support from and to, doing something, religion/faith in God, positive attitude and meaning. The positive psychology theoretical framework was applied in interpreting the findings. This study suggests that a combination of themes is relevant in one’s ability to move beyond a low point experience towards a high point experience. The application of the theme-model could assist others in similar situations to create change or a turning-point experience in order to move away from or transcend a low point. The study was linked to the subjective measuring of Quality of Life (QOL). It is recommended that more subjective indicators of QOL, including spirituality indicators, be investigated. While this study focussed on the internal influences affecting change in a person’s life towards fulfilment, further studies may investigate the external influences. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)