本研究的主要提問是：「城隍神的角色為何﹖」並且選擇「社會角色」作為本研究的分析架構。華人的超自然世界形同一個社會，其中的神祇是社會化的，祂們並以群體的方式出現在廟宇中。而且，廟內神祇之間存在的關係，定義了祂們所處的微型社會，以及祂們的角色。就像是父子、母子、夫妻這些關係定義了存在這些關係的場域為「家庭」這個微型社會，以及父親、母親、女兒這些角色。因此，本研究以這樣的架構，去探討城隍神的角色。 根據本研究的探討，當代臺灣本島城隍神的角色有四種：1.地方官，2.陰間執法官，3.鬼王，4.地方守護神。對照歷史時期中國城隍神的角色，發現臺灣本島城隍神的角色不脫離城隍信仰的源頭――中國，清朝時期的中國城隍神就已經具有當代臺灣本島所有的城隍神角色了。然而，在一個集體概念之下的城隍神還是有屬於當代的、臺灣本島的形式表現與內涵解釋。一是城隍神因應環境而被強化的既有角色，例如鬼王。一是在既有的角色上，因應需求，使得角色的內容有新的轉向，例如同是地方守護神，卻產生針對不同需求的守護內容。 也就是說，從城隍神的角色來看，有不變，也有變的內涵。那麼，變與不變之間是斷裂的，亦或有其連續性呢？本研究發現城隍神的多元角色，不脫離其根源的概念：土、地、陰。這個概念根源，是其一切變化的源頭。而各種角色與概念根源之間展現出一種連續性，是因為城隍神或說民間信仰神祇的各種角色必須要有合理的立基基礎方能成立，而且，其基礎是建立在一套文化知識或聯想邏輯上的。 最後，筆者認為，除了文字之外，廟宇中的陪祀神也是一種描述的符號。這一類在漢人宗教研究中一種未被關注的描述符號，可以提供我們另外一種觀看漢人神祇的重要角度。 / The goal of this article is to answer “What roles does the City God play?” Concerning role is the issue, “social roles” is taken as the analyzing structure here. The supermundane world of Chinese religion is embodied in the temples. In the temples, the deities do not show up alone, and they are socialized. The relationship between the chief deity and the accompanying deities defines the society where they are and the roles they play. Through the analyzing structure of social roles, this research found that the City God in modern Taiwan island plays 4 roles: 1. Magistrate, 2. The judge in the hell, 3. Chief of ghost, and 4. Regional protector. Compared with the roles of the City God in historical era, the 4 roles are not new. Even though sharing a general and consistent image, the City God with modern interpretation incidentally have different expression and content to meet new needs. Futher, after examining the elements of roles, the core concepts of the variations: soil(土), ground(地), and yin(陰) come to light. All the roles necessarily link to the core concepts because the concepts are the logical base of the City God belief, and they provide the legitimacy. After all, this research proves that the structure of “social role” is applicable in understanding Chinese deities, and the “accompanying deities” play crucial roles in identifying the roles of the chief deity in the temple.

INTRODUCTION: In Canada, the role of Telehealth Coordinator is relatively new. Provider institutions and telehealth networks developed the role to support implementation and use of videoconferencing technology in health care delivery. As telehealth usage grows, an increasing number of Canadian nurses, other regulated health care professionals and unregulated workers are being called upon to function as Telehealth Coordinators. However, in some organizations, this role remains poorly understood and generally, little is known about the demographics of Canada’s Telehealth Coordinator community of practice. PURPOSE: Using Role Theory concepts and the tenets of Nursing Informatics, the broad aim of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the demographics and role that nurses, other regulated health professionals and unregulated workers play in sustainable telehealth technology implementation and use in Canada. This is important in the context of leveraging technology to meet the challenges of an ageing population and increasing burden of chronic illness. METHODS: Qualitative exploratory study design using mixed methods. Telehealth Coordinators from the Canadian Society of Telehealth (CST) and Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) were invited to take part in an online survey (33 items) and telephone interview (20 items). RESULTS: From two identified populations – a provincial sample from Ontario and a national sample from other Canadian provinces and territories, 47 Telehealth Coordinators provided responses that could be analyzed. Over half of the respondents (56%) reported being between the ages of 40 – 59 years and 75% were female. Nurses and other regulated health care professionals comprised 53% of the sample. Of the respondents, 66% reported working in a health care provider organization. Responses to the qualitative questions are presented within the context of Role Theory and Nursing Informatics. CONCLUSIONS: Canada’s Telehealth Coordinators are an eclectic community of practice with varying roles, responsibilities, educational backgrounds and experience. Although the role of Telehealth Coordinator varied across organizations and regions in Canada, important commonalities were also found. Participants expressed a need and desire for standards, ongoing professional education opportunities and credentialing – especially if the role involved patient care. Major factors contributing to Canadian Telehealth Coordinators work satisfaction were: 1. patient contact and knowledge that they were making health care more accessible 2. educating others in the use of videoconferencing technology and 3. autonomy. Organizational issues including a lack of resources and understanding of the role by senior executives provided the least satisfaction for Telehealth Coordinators. Strong organizational support for Telehealth Coordinators will increase the probability of successful videoconferencing technology implementation and use.

I arbetslivet har första linjens chefer haft stora inslag av direkt ledarskap med en traditionellt hög närvaro hos de underställda. Studier visar på en ökad andel administrativa, ekonomiska och personalledande uppgifter för första linjens chefer som får till följd en minskad delaktighet i den dagliga verksamheten men också sämre möjligheter att motivera sin underställda, vilket negativt påverkar verksamheten. I Försvarsmakten har administrativa uppgifter som tidigare genomfördes högre upp i organisationen flyttats till en lägre nivå. Uppsatsens syfte är att öka förståelsen för och kunskapen om plutonchefens arbetssituation efter införandet av anställda soldater och den delegerade arbetsgivarrollen till plutonchefen. Studiens fokus är på plutonchefens avvägning mellan deltagandet i underställdas verksamhet för att utöva direkt ledarskap kontra att genomföra bl.a. personaladministration. I studien används rollteori från socialpsykologin som analysmodell, med utgångspunkt i tidigare forskning och litteratur om första linjens chefer och Försvarsmaktens ledarskapsmodell. Inledningsvis beskrivs Försvarsmaktens ”utsända” rollförväntning, därefter inhämtas plutonchefens upplevda arbetssituation och rollförväntning med en enkät till 141 plutonchefer (90 svar). Slutligen jämförs rollförväntningarna med varandra samt med teorin.  I empirin framkommer att plutonchefernas situation är pressad där upplevda tvingande administrativa arbetsuppgifter prioriteras före direkt ledarskap. Hälften (48 %) av plutoncheferna deltar i underställdas verksamhet mindre än 20 % av sin arbetstid och endast 20 % av plutoncheferna använder mindre än 20 % av arbetstiden till administration av underställda. Resultatet antyder att det finns en skillnad i rollförväntningar på plutonchefen mellan Försvarsmakten och plutoncheferna själva, främst kopplat till faktorn överbelastning av arbetsuppgifter samt yrkesrollidentiteten.

The current study examined whether there are sex-based differences in adolescents’ accuracy in perceiving and acceptance of parental socialisation values. Together with their parents, a total of 134 adolescents (aged 13 to 18) from private Christian schools in Johannesburg, South Africa participated in the study. After creating the measures of overall accuracy, overall acceptance, specific accuracy and specific acceptance, a series of mixed-design ANOVAs were conducted in order to evaluate the six research hypotheses. The results illustrated that there may be sex-based differences in adolescents’ accuracy in perceiving the importance that their mothers and fathers place on the value of power as a socialisation value. However, the overall results suggested that the focus on the effect of adolescent sex on adolescents’ accuracy in perceiving and acceptance of parental socialisation values was too narrow because various parent sex and adolescent sex interaction effects were found. Furthermore, there is no clear pattern indicating how sex influences adolescents’ accuracy in perceiving and acceptance of parental socialisation values, thus suggesting that the influence of sex is value-specific. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology: Research Consultation)

本研究主要動機在於兩岸關係的複雜與動態發展的特性，不能簡單的一言以蔽之，複雜在於中國的變化以及兩岸主權的特殊性。本文聚焦的重點在於，透過角色理論的爬梳，先探討中國角色型塑的過程。透過中國的歷史自我以及中國是天下觀底下培養出的他者投射，兩相結合整理中國的角色變化。尤其在中國邁入現代後賦予其「身分」與「地位」兩個自我概念，再試圖整理現代中國自我認知與他者投射後產出的角色。透過中國大陸的角色建構過程，分析中國在特定時間內的角色以及其特性。 其次，透過大小政治實體理論，以及中國自身的角色變化，觀察中國越南與中國朝鮮兩個不對稱理論的案例實踐中，中國作為大政治實體展現出的特性。中國在實踐中越關係以及中朝關係時，一方面受到自身角色的影響，另一方面受到不對稱關係交流中的限制，並不能無視小國意願的為所欲為。因此。透過中國與越南和朝鮮的關係實踐，可以對於中國在大小政治實體概念中，處理兩岸關係的啟示。 最後，整理不對稱理論中小國對於大國的可能選擇，以及中國大陸的角色變化，搭配兩岸關係三十年間的重要轉折點，將兩岸關係分為四個具有重要特性的時間段。希望藉此回答中國大陸自身在兩岸關係中的變與不變。

Den somaliskfödda gruppen beskrivs ofta som den mest svårintegrerade i Sverige med en stor underrepresentation på den svenska arbetsmarknaden. De beskrivs ha traditionella värderingar och könsroller som ofta dikterar arbetsfördelning och funktioner i familjen. Den aktuella studien ämnar undersöka effekten av ett förvärvsarbete för somaliska familjeroller i ett migrationsperspektiv. Genom att jämföra lönearbetande och arbetslösa somaliskfödda kvinnors upplevelser avser studien även belysa förvärvsarbetets betydelse för kvinnans vardagsliv. Uppsatsen bygger på tidigare forskning om de historiska, sociala och transnationella dimensionerna i somaliskt familjeliv och kultur samt teoretiska begrepp såsom rollkonflikt, rollförändring och rollförhandling. En kvalitativ jämförande fallstudie har genomförts, där resultatet baseras på data från semistrukturerade intervjuer. Åtta respondenter deltog i undersökningen, varav fyra var förvärvsarbetande och fyra arbetslösa somaliskfödda kvinnor. Med utgångspunkt från tidigare forskning och samhällsvetenskapens rollteori har resultatet analyserats för att kunna besvara forskningsfrågorna. I resultatet framkommer det att det finns vissa skillnader mellan de båda grupperna. De somaliska familjerna där kvinnorna inte befinner sig i ett förvärvsarbete har en distinkt uppdelning av hushållsarbetet, där kvinnan står för majoriteten av sysslorna. Det är även tydligt att de traditionella somaliska familjerollerna fortfarande vidmakthålls. I de familjer där de somaliskfödda kvinnorna lönearbetar däremot, har de traditionella familjerollerna uppluckrats och lett till en mer jämlik fördelning av hushållsarbetet. Där delar mannen, kvinnan och barnen på ansvaret. Fortsättningsvis framkommer det att de arbetslösa somaliskfödda kvinnorna är mycket angelägna om att ha ett arbete då självständighet från stat och myndigheter är drivkraften. För de lönearbetande kvinnorna framkommer istället ett tydligare fokus på att vara självständig från mannen och kunna bestämma mer i familjeangelägenheter. Resultatet visar även hur samhällets förväntningar på kvinnorna har påverkat deras drivkrafter till att arbeta och sätt att tänka om sin funktion i familjen. / Somali-born immigrants are often described as the most difficult group to integrate into Swedish society with an extensive underrepresentation on the Swedish labour market as well as traditional values and gender roles that often dictate the division of labour and functions in the family. This study aims to examine the effects of a job on Somali family roles from a migration perspective. By comparing wage-earning and unemployed Somali-born women's experiences, the study also aspires to elucidate the importance of a job in their everyday life. The essay is based on previous research on the historical, social and transnational dimensions of Somali family life and culture, as well as theoretical concepts such as role conflict, role change and role negotiation. A qualitative comparative case study has been conducted, based on data from semi-structured interviews. Eight respondents participated in the survey – four employed and four unemployed women born in Somalia. The results were then analyzed in the light of previous research and the theoretical concepts. The result shows that there are some interesting differences between the two groups. The Somali families in which the women are unemployed have a distinct division of the household work, where the woman assumes the majority of the workload. Here it is also clear that traditional Somali family roles are still of importance. However, in the families where the Somali-born women have employment, traditional family roles have changed and led to a more even distribution of household work, where the men, women and children share the responsibility. Furthermore, it appears that the unemployed Somali-born women are very keen to have a job, as independence from the state and government is a main driving force. For the wage-earners on the other hand, there is a clearer focus on being independent from the man and being able to be a decision-maker in family matters. The result also illustrates how society's expectations on women influence their driving forces to work and the way they think about their role in the family.

With the aim of contributing one aspect to the international relations enterprise of understanding the grounds for security policy action, this essay makes a theoretical exploration of the basis for security strategy-making on the political level, with the aid of a multidisciplinary framework for analysis (combining research on strategy, narratives and role theory). Developing the concept of strategic actor by assessing its constitution through aspects of strategic theory (e.g. theories of action), role enactment, and strategic narratives, enables the study to construct an analytical tool which can be utilized to assess the strategic reasoning of actors within international relations. This analytical tool is tested for relevance by being employed to empirically analyse public security strategies of states and intergovernmental organizations as presumed strategic actors. Empirical analysis guided by the framework for analysis is conducted vis-à-vis a selection of security strategies (a.k.a. strategic concepts) between 2000 and 2010, of state-actors: the Russian Federation, the United States, the United Kingdom, and IGO-actors: the European Union and NATO. The essay increases the understanding of strategic actors’ strategy-making in general and security strategy-making in particular. The findings augment the understanding of the complex choices facing political units if they aim to credibly cast themselves as a strategic actor – at least regarding the aspect of reasoning strategically – as well as shedding some more light on the particular policy material that security strategies represents.

This paper presents the role theory and the role conception power for peace which was created for the European Union on the basis of its values, norms and rules. Five criteria that define power for peace were applied to the peace mission EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After verification of all criteria it was proved that the EU has acted as power for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it has therefore fulfilled its role conception.

Background - Women are underrepresented in top management positions all over the globe. This also applies to Sweden, despite the country's long progressive and high material prosperity. This situation is particularly evident in the banking sector, where women represent approximately half of the workforce. However, in the four largest banks in Sweden, women only occupy 33,25 percent in the highest management teams and 34,5 percent on the boards. This phenomenon is often referred to as “the glass ceiling,” a set of barriers that hinder women’s accessibility to top management positions. This underrepresentation is, in turn, likely to result in a loss of potential human resources due to organizations not searching for competent candidates in approximately half of the population. Further, banks are associated with a lot of power in the society, where they have a significant impact, with a critical role in the economy, contributing to financial growth. Initiatives by for instance the EU Commission to increase gender diversity are on the high agenda. Consequently, the subject of understanding and overcoming these barriers stands high on the agenda of both politicians and researchers. Purpose - The purpose of this study is to identify barriers among women toward reaching top management positions in the commercial banking sector, as well as how women in top management positions have overcome them. By investigating the barriers and how women overcome them, we will contribute with a deeper understanding and meaningful insights to political and managerial practitioners on how they can identify and help women overcome the barriers. The foundation of the theoretical framework in this study will be based on Becker’s (1957) theory of discrimination, Social role theory, and System justification theory will lay the foundation of the theoretical framework in this study. Method - This study is based on qualitative research with a multiple case study in the banking sector in Sweden. Conclusion - We conclude that the most common barriers are based on stereotypical beliefs, the balance between private life and work, biases and discrimination, and organizational culture and structure. How to overcome these barriers is built on supporting organizations, an equal private life situation, and specifically identified personality traits.

The European Union (EU) is the world’s leading development donor, playing a pivotal role in shaping development norms. This paper aims to investigate the extent to which the EU has been effective in its external aid actorness towards global poverty eradication during the post-Cotonou negotiation period (2000-2020). The theoretical framework of Sjöstedt’s (1977) Actorness Theory  is constructed upon the premises of Social Constructivism. To operationalize “actorness”, Brattberg and Rhinard’s (2012) criteria of context, coherence, consistency, and  capability are utilized. The research triangulates the methods of Discourse Historical Analysis and Thematic Content Analysis to assess the EU’s nom-setting policy discourse. The analysis suggests that the Union scores highly in the context and capability criteria, as it is recognized as a legitimate development actor and possesses mechanisms to reach aid agreements, while lacks  coherence  and  consistency  due to inadequate policy implementation and commitment to McKee et al.’s (2020) Aid Quality Index. The thesis concludes that the EU’s aid effectiveness has decreased due to its actorness being increasingly linked to foreign policy considerations in response to emerging challenges in development cooperation. The research underlines the significance of analysing the empirical linkage between EU’s actorness and effectiveness for the field of International Relations.