This participatory action research project enabled service users to influence the modernisation of local mental health day services. The modernisation programme was based on principles of social inclusion, and there were limited understandings of how it could be applied locally. Interpretations of policy gave priority to the relocation of services and facilitating individual recovery. An occupational perspective informed the design, implementation and analysis, emphasising what people chose to do. Critical ethnography informed the role of the researcher. Service user involvement was understood as a democratic process, drawing on direct experience for service development. A forum, established for four years, worked on and supported three research strands, focused on social networking. Service users captured their use of a social lounge using photography in Strand A. In Strand B a checklist was used to investigate social activities. Userled social groups were explored in Strand C through individual interviews. All the findings were systematically analysed and service users were involved in this for Strands A and B. The findings of this research emphasised the importance of social networking within the day services. Strand A indicated the benefits of a safe space, before getting involved and moving on. The final report from this strand led to ongoing funding being allocated for a safe space. For Strand B many social and recreational activities were identified by service users. Stigma was recognised as an ongoing barrier to sustained inclusion. A poster was designed and displayed locally to share the findings. Themes from Strand C demonstrated that user-led groups required active collaboration with mental health services to survive and thrive. A final stage of analysis aimed to uncover the details of taking an occupational perspective. The findings indicated that varied occupational forms involved different service users in different ways, enabling more people to participate. Making the functions of the different events explicit was important for negotiating participation. Meanings were expressed in shared and individual reflection as the research unfolded. Understanding and attending to these aspects facilitated meaningful service user involvement in this research, enabling many people to influence the development of the services they received.

College students with visual disabilities are less likely to graduate than their sighted counterparts. The purpose of this study was to understand the life experiences of successful college students with visual disabilities. Concepts of risk and resiliency were used as a conceptual framework for understanding how people can have positive outcomes in spite of adversity. Individual, family, school, and community influences were explored. In-depth interviews were conducted with six participants who have vision impairments and were nearing the completion or had recently completed a college degree. Data were analyzed for common themes and meanings using a phenomenological method advanced by Moustakas (1994). Validity threats were minimized through triangulation, member checks, and thick data. Risk and protective factors in the context of family, school, and community for successful college students with visual disabilities were identified. Implications for rehabilitation counselors, college counselors, and special education teachers were discussed. Interventions to move students with visual disabilities toward resiliency and minimize the impact of risk factors that impede success were proposed. Suggestions for future research were offered.

Andelen äldre med psykisk ohälsa ökar i samhället, men de äldre vårdas oftast i sammanhang där personalen inte har utbildning i psykisk ohälsa. ”Första hjälpen psykisk hälsa äldre” är ett utbildningsprogram utformat av Nationellt centrum för suicidforskning och prevention av psykisk ohälsa vid karolinska institutet. Ursprungligen kommer konceptet från Australien. Syftet med denna intervjustudie är att belysa hur personalen från ett boende, samt biståndshandläggare och värdegrundsledare i Uppsala kommun, vilka i sitt yrkesutövande möter äldre, upplever att de har kunnat använda kunskaperna från utbildningen ”Första hjälpen psykisk hälsa äldre” i mötet med brukare och anhöriga. Studien bygger på nio semistrukturerade intervjuer med personal. Resultatet från intervjuerna visade på att informanterna har haft nytta av kunskaperna. Informanterna lyfte informationen om den höga suicidrisken bland gruppen äldre, och att våga ställa frågan om brukaren hade tankar på att ta sitt liv, som viktiga kunskaper från utbildningen. Även kunskapen om vart de skall hänvisa de som uppvisar psykisk ohälsa, var värdefull. Dock blev det ett dilemma när informanterna skulle hänvisa till annan vårdinstans, då de visste att det var långa köer dit. Anhöriga kunde också må dåligt vilket blev svårt för informanterna, då det inte ingick i deras uppdrag att hjälpa den gruppen. Hinder för att kunna använda kunskaperna på arbetsplatsen var brist på tid, personaltäthet, bristande kontinuitet bland personalen och att den äldre inte fått biståndsbeslut som innehöll insatser till stöd för personens psykiska mående. Det fanns emellertid ett stort behov av kunskap kring äldres psykiska hälsa i organisationen. / The proportion of older people suffering of mental ill-health is increasing in society. Older people are typically cared for  in health-facilities by professionals who often lack knowledge in mental health care. ”Mental health first aid” is a course, developed by The Nation Centre for suicide research and prevention of mental–ill-health (NASP) at Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, based on a  concept from Australia. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how staff in housing, assistance officers  and developers working in elderly care in Uppsala municipality, experience that they have been able to use the knowledge from the course “Mental health first aid elderly” in meetings with users and relatives. This study is based on nine semi-structured interviews with staff. The results showed that the informants found knowledge gained from the course to be useful. The informants emphasized the high suicide risk among older people and to dare to ask whether the older people had thoughts of committing suicide as important knowledge gained from the course. Also knowledge of where to refer persons who present mental ill-health was valuable. However, it became a dilemma when the staff needed to refer the older people to health care facilities, with long waiting times. Relatives could also suffer from mental ill-health, which was difficult for the staff, as assisting relatives was not part of their field of responsibility. Obstacles which limited the workplace from implementing new knowledge were lack of time, lack of staff, lack of continuity within staffing teams and that the older people had not been granted support for their mental wellbeing. However, there was a need for increased knowledge in the organization about older people’s mental health.

Bakgrund: Svensk statistik tyder på att antalet multisjuka äldre kommer att öka. Hälso- och sjukvårdslagen stadgar att vården skall vara av god kvalitet och tillgodose patienternas behov av trygghet. I dagens samhälle föreligger en risk att äldre människor utsätts för ålderism, vilken kan påverka vårdens kvalitet och orsaka ett lidande för de äldre patienterna. Syfte: Att beskriva äldre patienters upplevelser av vården på en geriatrisk vårdavdelning i Mellansverige. Metod: Latent kvalitativ innehållsanalys av tolv semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultat: Resultatet utgörs av två teman och sju subteman. Temat Upplevelser av att få en god vård beskriver att de äldre patienterna upplevde sig få en vårdande miljö samt att vårdpersonalen fungerade som en hälsoresurs vilket kunde gynna patienternas välbefinnande. Temat belyser att ett gott bemötande och att få bli sedd som en person resulterade i positiva känslor samt att delaktighet och självbestämmande var viktiga faktorer. Temat Upplevelser av att få en bristande vård beskriver att upplevelser av en otrygg omgivning och avsaknad av sjukdomshänsyntagande, bristande bemötande och kunskap samt att inte få en personcentrerad vård resulterade i negativa känslor. Slutsatser: Resultatet visar att det förekommer både positiva och negativa upplevelser av vården på avdelningen. Att de äldre patienterna upplever brister i vården uppmärksammar att det finns en risk för att ålderism existerar och påverkar vårdens kvalitet. Examensarbetet kan tillföra kunskap om och förståelse för hur äldre patienter upplever vården, vilket kan bidra till bättre förutsättningar för en god vårdupplevelse. / Background:  Swedish statistics indicate that there will be an increase in the number of elderly with multiple illnesses. The Health Care Act stipulates that the care provided must be of good quality and meet the patients’ needs for security. In today's society there is a risk that older people are subjected to ageism, which can affect the quality of healthcare and expose the older patients to conditions of suffering. Aim: To describe older patients’ experiences of healthcare at a geriatric ward in central Sweden. Methods: A latent qualitative content analysis of twelve semi-structured interviews. Results: The results consist of two themes and seven subthemes. The theme Experiences of getting good health care describes that when older patients experienced a nurturing environment and the caregivers worked as a health resource, it could benefit the patients’ wellbeing. The theme emphasizes that encountering a good reception and being aknowledged as a person resulted in positive emotions, and that participation in the care process and self-determination were key factors. The theme Experiences of receiving a lack of care describes that the experience of an unsafe environment, actual diseases not being taken into account, lack of treatment and knowledge, as well as being denied person-centered care, resulted in negative emotions. Conclusions: The results indicate that both positive and negative resposnses concerning the care at the ward are experienced. The older patients who experience deficiencies in healthcare, recognize that there is a risk that ageism exists, which may affect the quality of care. The thesis provides knowledge and understanding of how older patients experience healthcare which can contribute to better conditions for the patients, in order for them to experience good healthcare.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / The historic social and economic inequalities had a negative impact on majority of young children in South Africa. This dates back to post-apartheid era where the development of young children. of some previously disadvantaged communities, has been weakened by inadequate access to health care, quality education, social service and quality nutrition. The present study evaluated the progress made on the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 using a case study of Early Childhood Development (ECO) centres in Site-B Township based in Khayelitsha. To support the notion of "leaving no one behind and universal access to education", the study used a Humanistic Approach Theory Framework and Human Capital Approach to determine the current status of the formalisation of the ECD centres, infrastructure and equipment, basic service delivery as well as safety at the ECD centres in Site-B. The study adopted a qualitative research design using a semi structured face-to-face interview schedules with respondents. Purposive sampling was applied to select the critical case perceived useful for the study. It comprised of 20 respondents, all principals or owners of the selected ECD centres. ECD centres were selected from the database obtained from the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE). From the samples, the study revealed that even though a lot has been done by different stakeholders to support Early Childhood Development, learning centres located in historically disadvantaged areas such as Site-B still face a number of challenges. Key among them are: challenges to comply with the registration process and lack of trained and skilled teachers; inadequate funding to meet compliance standards; insufficient infrastructure and educational equipment and lack of support for ECO safety and security measures and health related emergencies.

A enfermagem caracteriza-se como uma profissão de dedicação ao outro, munindo o enfermeiro de um corpo de conhecimentos, saberes, afetividades, atitudes e práticas de cuidar. Objetivou-se compreender a experiência de estar envelhecendo na perspectiva dos enfermeiros atuantes em ambiente hospitalar. Estudo qualitativo de abordagem fenomenológica, sob a ótica de Martín Heidegger. Foram coletados depoimentos dos participantes a partir de seis questões norteadoras que desvelaram no fenômeno do ser-enfermeiro no processo de envelhecimento. O estudo cumpriu as questões éticas. Os resultados contribuíram para a compreensão sobre a existencialidade do serenfermeiro que envelhece. Foram divididos em três categorias: Ser-aí e as diferentes faces do envelhecimento; Ser-no-mundo do trabalho; Ser-no-mundo da velhice. No estudo observa-se uma tendência à busca positiva do envelhecimento e à velhice ativa, mas aspectos como medo da solidão e abandono (Ser-no-mundo da velhice) destacam-se nos discursos através de falas amedrontadas sobre eles. A temporalidade e a empatia associados ao Serno-mundo do trabalho desvela o modo de ser desses enfermeiros no âmbito hospitalar (cotidianidade) onde a postura empática faz-se constante, traz satisfação pessoal e profissional verbalizadas por meio de suas conquistas / Nursing is characterized as a profession of dedication to the other, providing the nurse with a body of knowledge, knowledge, affectivities, attitudes and caring practices. The objective of this study was to understand the experience of aging in the perspective of nurses working in a hospital environment. A qualitative study of a phenomenological approach was carried out, from Martín Heidegger\'s point of view. Participants\' testimonies were collected from six guiding questions that revealed the phenomenon of being-nurse in the aging process. The study fulfilled the ethical issues. The results contributed to the understanding of the existentiality of the aging nurse. They were divided into three categories: Beingthere and the different faces of aging; Being-in-the-world of work; Being-in-theworld of old age. In the study, there is a tendency towards a positive quest for aging and for active old age, but aspects such as fear of loneliness and abandonment (\"Being-in-the-world of old age\") stand out in discourses through frightened speeches about these aspects. Relevant aspects such as temporality and empathy associated with the \"Being-in-the-world of work\" reveal the way of being of these nurses in the hospital environment (everyday life) where empathic posture becomes constant, brings personal and professional satisfaction verbalized through their achievements

1 ABSTRACT The present thesis is focused on primary school pupil's understanging of gender issues. The aim of the thesis is to analyze and compare how pupils understand the gendre issues introduced in the theoretical part of the thesis. The theoretical part of the thesis defines the theoretical concepts of the gender issues - gender, stereotype, gender stereotypes, also related areas, constructivism, pedagogical constructivism and children's interpretations of the world. In this part of the thesis, there is also presented an overview of current research focused on the gender issues. The practical part consists in a qualitative analysis. The data are collected through individual in-depth interview with primary school pupils. The results of the analysis are compared with previous stuides focused on the gender issues.

Ce travail se propose de définir la place du jeu dans les pratiques de loisirs des enfants de 8 à 14 ans en identifiant les déterminations qui l’organisent et en esquissant une sociographie du jeu des enfants de cet âge. Il envisage le jeu comme un choix contingent sous contrainte, qui ne prend sens qu’à la lumière du système d’action concret dans lequel l’enfant évolue. Le jeu est une activité « sous contrainte », dont les contours sont esquissés par les adultes et dont l’occurrence est socialement organisée. La décision de jouer n’est pas une décision libre pour l’enfant. Elle est modelée par un ensemble de facteurs, matériels, sociaux et symboliques, qui viennent orienter, organiser et limiter son choix. La contrainte de temps, d’espace et le projet éducatif parental sont au cœur de ces contraintes. A partir de la question du jeu, il éclaire la question de la dépendance des enfants en donnant à voir ce que les « adultes font aux enfants » et la manière dont ils « réagissent aux situations qui leur sont faites ». En se penchant sur les pratiques de jeux des enfants, ce travail montre que le jeu est à la fois un espace de construction identitaire, de socialisation et de « libération dans l’imaginaire » des contraintes du quotidien. En replaçant le jeu dans le champ plus large des activités récréatives des enfants de 8 à 14 ans, il souligne le changement qui s’opère pendant cette période dans la vie des enfants et qui conduit à une évolution de leurs pratiques récréatives et à un déplacement du jeu vers de nouvelles sphères d’activités, plus fortement orientée vers la sociabilité entre pairs. / This research analyzes the place of play in the recreational practices of children aged 8 to 14. It focuses on how these theses practices are determined and describes play practices of children of this age. Play is not a free choice but rather it is conditioned by a larger social system, drawn by adults and organized socially. The decision to play is not a free decision for children. It is shaped by a combination of material, social, and symbolic factors that direct, organize, and limit their choices. Time, space and parental educational priorities act as major constraints in this process. The research draws light on the issue of children’s dependency, by analyzing what "the adults do to children" and how children "react to the situations in where they are placed”. By focusing on children’s game practices, this research indicates that play is not only a part of identity construction and socialization; it nevertheless also allows a symbolic way to escape the constraints of daily life and adults’ control. Looking at play and the broader field of recreational activities provides insights on the change that occurs between 8 and 14, change that modifies children’s recreational practices and initiates a shift towards new areas of activities, more oriented towards peers.

Ancré dans le champ du marketing interne, ce travail s’intéresse au phénomène de participation des salariés à la prise de décision. Inscrit dans le paradigme interprétativiste, il adopte une approche qualitative compréhensive et s’appuie sur une méthode d’étude de cas. Il est illustré par le cas de la démarche « Vision 2020 », mise en place auprès des salariés de la RATP en vue de la création du plan d’entreprise 2013-2020. Abordés dans une perspective systémique et interactionnelle, propre à l’approche communicationnelle de l’école de Palo Alto, les résultats émanent d’un raisonnement abductif et sont construits à l’aide d’un processus itératif d’allers retours entre la théorie, le recueil et l’analyse des données empiriques. Ainsi, l’analyse et l’interprétation des données recueillies par triangulation ont permis d’aborder la notion de participation selon trois angles, en se plaçant du point du vue des salariés : la conceptualisation du phénomène de participation, les objectifs et les effets de ce type d’initiative et les éléments pouvant exercer une influence sur l’attitude des employés envers celle-ci. Ce travail a par ailleurs souligné des enjeux majeurs inhérents à la participation des salariés, tels que le suivi de l’action participative, l’importance des supports, l’évolution de l’attitude des salariés lors de la mise en place de ce type d’action, ou encore le rôle particulier du manager dans ce type de démarche. Il constitue une théorisation de pratiques managériales existantes. / Anchored in the field of internal marketing, this work investigates the phenomenon of employee participation in decision-making. Inside an interpretivist paradigm, it adopts a qualitative and comprehensive approach, based on a case study method. We choose the case of the initiative "Vision 2020", set up with RATP employees in order to create the 2013 to 2020 business plan. Addressed in a systemic and interactional perspective, specific to the communication approach of Palo Alto, the findings result from an abductive reasoning and are built using an iterative process that goes back and forth between theory, collection and analysis of empirical data. The analysis and interpretation of data collected by triangulation thus allow us to address the notion of participation from three angles, adopting the point of view of employees: the conceptualization of the phenomenon of participation, the objectives and effects of this type of initiative and the elements influencing the attitude of employees towards it. This work highlights major challenges inherent in employee participation, such as the monitoring of participatory action, the importance of media, changing the attitude of employees during the implementation of this type action, or the special role of the manager in this type of initiative. It proposes a theorization of existing management practices.

Traditionally, the curriculum for deaf learners mainly involved language acquisition. The emphasis on academic subjects, such as science was marginal. In South Africa, the National Curriculum Statements (NCS) was introduced to redress the inequalities of the past education system. This research report is an investigation of science education for deaf learners. The study involved, firstly, exploring the experiences of educators that teach science to deaf learners and secondly, the identification of possible barriers that deaf learners experience in acquiring scientific knowledge, values and skills. Methodologically, this research project is located in the qualitative paradigm. The research participants comprised of five educators that teach science to deaf learners. The research sites were schools that cater for deaf learners, and are located in a province of South Africa. To gather data from the participants, the qualitative tools of interviews, field observations and artifact collection were utilized. Findings from the research indicate that there are intrinsic factors, such as literacy, sign language, cognition and motivation, and extrinsic factors, such as policy implementation, instructional strategies and resources that create barriers for deaf learners in science education. The participants’ suggestions that have emerged are also mentioned. Data obtained from the research provides valuable insight for deaf learners, educators that teach science to deaf learners and educational policy makers. The research report concludes with recommendations that could have implications for further research in the context of science education for deaf learners in South Africa.