This thesis examines whether the introduction of citizenship education in New Zealand would increase the levels of active citizenship of young migrant New Zealanders, using voter turnout as a measure. This research draws attention to an overlooked part of New Zealand political science research by studying young migrant New Zealanders. The theories and topics covered in this research include the notion of citizenship, education, political participation, social capital and multiculturalism. Both surveys and interviews are used to gauge young New Zealanders’ political attitudes and opinions, and their levels of political knowledge, interest, sophistication and socialisation are examined. The findings of this research suggest that citizenship education would not only be beneficial to young migrant New Zealanders but that citizenship education would benefit all young New Zealanders. It is argued that an increase in all young New Zealanders’ levels of political knowledge and interest are likely to have a positive effect on voter turnout levels. It is also argued that the current education curriculum does not explicitly encourage such learning. Using these findings in conjunction with theory, it is recommended that citizenship education is implemented into the New Zealand secondary school curriculum to ensure that New Zealand’s democracy is in good health for the current and future generations.

In 1996, Malaysia developed a national ICT policy intending to establish on-line community networks amongst all citizens as part of the agenda to prepare the nation to become a mainstream knowledge-based society and economy. As a country that has historically experienced uneasy tension between inter-ethnic social relationships, this research seeks to explore whether on-line social networking affects the forms of social capital and social integration found amongst diverse on-line ethnic communities (Malay, Chinese and Indian) in Malaysia. Six on-line communities were selected as case studies and the research was carried out in two stages. The first stage involved interviewing three different groups of participants: on-line community administrators, Government representatives and the general public; the second stage was a web-based survey of on-line participants. The findings suggest that the six selected on-line communities in this study show great potential for enhancing social networks and social capital across all members of different ethnicities. However, these are not significant enough to create social integration across all ethnic communities. Instead, three different trends of bonding and bridging social capital emerged across the six selected on-line communities. The first trend shows bridging social capital throughout both on-line and off-line activities in MalaysiaMAYA.com (social networking site), SARA (residential-based) and FamilyPlace.com (parenting and children). The second trend indicates that bridging networks were limited to on-line communication as seen in both residentially-based communities (USJ Subang Jaya and PJNet). In contrast, VirtualFriends.net (social networking site) only demonstrates bonding social capital developed in both on-line and off-line social networking. Considering these diverse patterns, it is argued that transferring bridging social capital from an on-line medium to an off-line medium is challenging. Factors of cultural capital such as language use and cultural and religious observations have been highlighted as significant in shaping community networking patterns. Overall, the issue of ethnic integration in the context of on-line communities in Malaysia remains, at best, a challenging factor for the formation of on-line/ off-line social capital.

The overall purpose of this research was to investigate barriers to and opportunities for adaptive co-management of artisanal fisheries in coastal Uruguay, with comparisons to Paraty (Southeastern Brazil). Following a qualitative approach, two case studies were developed; one in the Piriápolis area (Río de la Plata coast) and one in Praia Grande/Ilha do Araújo (Rio de Janeiro State), the former with more depth than the latter. Findings indicate that, first, artisanal fisheries have been under a social-ecological crisis (e.g. catches have been declining; fishing effort has increased; relationships among fishers have been eroded), opening windows of opportunity for alternative management. Second, a multilevel social capital analysis conducted by studying the relationships embedded in the bonding, bridging, and linking networks among fishery stakeholders (artisanal fishers, fish buyers, unions, universities, NGOs, government agencies) enabled the identification of more barriers than opportunities for co-management. For example, fishers are only weakly organized, and these bonding connections at the local level were undermined by conflict-laden linking relationships. Third, fishers from the two sites stated that they would like to be involved in resource management, and the proposed fisheries law in Uruguay (before the Parliament) would be an enabling policy for a consultative degree of participation, through the creation of national and zonal councils. Nevertheless, the negative impact that external agents have had on fishing communities are among the causes of low fisher participation. Fourth, findings from a participatory research initiative involving fishery stakeholders in Piriápolis (creating a multi-stakeholder body, POPA) showed that this approach can help overcome some of the barriers to co-management. These barriers include conflict-ridden relationships between fishers and the fisheries agency; stakeholders’ lack of capacity; and weak fisher organization. Moreover, the case showed that participatory research can pave the way for adaptive co-management by injecting a dynamic learning element into the early stages of the collaborative process. These findings, as well as the multilevel conception of social capital, represent contributions to adaptive co-management theory. The thesis identified contributions to policy based on the barriers and opportunities found for this transition, and suggested areas for further research.

The purpose of this research was to explore how a medium-sized, not-for-profit social services organization could strategically engage culturally diverse women in Canada between the ages of 30-50 in activities that would help to achieve the organization's strategic objectives. Research was related to determining the current state of engaging this population and the actions SOS could take to enhance engagement. Action research involved staff, volunteers, donors and representatives of other organizations. Research findings revealed a connection between engaging stakeholders and growing the organization, in particular engagement through dialogue on issues associated with orphaned and abandoned children using methods that address the diverse preferences of this population. Recommendations included targeting corporate marketing and communication efforts to create meaningful interactions, creating messages centred on issues, and developing organizational capacity to strategically plan and manage this kind of stakeholder engagement. This study was of minimal risk and adhered to RRU Ethical Guidelines.

This paper starts where previous research in this scientific field, research about individuals who managed to end their criminal lifestyle, ends – by talking in terms of Pierre Bourdieu’s forms of capital. In former studies the researchers pointed out access to a job and parenting as helpful factors to end a criminal lifestyle. Our purpose with this paper, however, was to find out if it is possible to understand criminals successfully ending their criminal lifestyle from Bourdieu’s capital metaphors and Mark Granovetter’s concept of strong and weak ties. The empirical data consists of interviews with a life story perspective by eight members of an organization called KRIS (Criminals Return Into Society). All the interviewees included in this study have managed to end their respective criminal lifestyle. The results indicate that our interviewees had help in their ending of the criminal lifestyle by access to or by establishing social capital. The social capital in the interviewees’ cases were constituted by on one hand strong ties, on the other hand weak ties. In a couple of cases both types of ties were involved. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the social capital itself cannot make an ending of the criminal lifestyle possible. The following factors in the individual’s life has to be fulfilled in order to end his or hers criminal lifestyle: (1) exhort a strong motive inside him-/herself, (2) accept no drug use of any kind and (3) carry through a switch of field from the criminal society to the conventional.

The transformation from an industrial to a knowledge age has brought about a fast-changing world-focus and a competitive economy. The nursing profession, as part of the larger economy, is challenged by this transformation due to globalisation, internationalisation, capitalism within a consumer society, an ageing workforce, staff shortages, international migration and advanced technology. It is argued that these challenges are impacting directly on the nursing profession as a part of the global economy. This impact is intensified due to the ethos of nursing that is evaluated from a profit perspective and does not value the core values of nursing, that of caring and trust. The managerial strategies that are applied in nursing does not sufficiently harness and direct nurses. Focus is placed on nurse leaders as crucial role players in directing the nursing profession in peril. A call was made by followers for a different type of nurse leaders to lead this challenged profession, in an international arena. Social capital, being an abstract and multi-facet concept is presented as a possible framework to assist with the above crisis. Extremely limited literature was found on the utilisation of social capital to develop nurse leadership amongst these challenges. The research question, and later comprehensive aim, was formulated to examine how a theory in Nursing Science for authentic leadership embedded in a social capital framework, can be constructed. Theory construction of a middle-range theory was conducted in three phases. Phase One implied concept identification, descriptions, definitions and analysis. The actual theory construction was achieved in Phase Two, whilst Phase Three detailed the theory evaluation and guidelines for operationalisation. Main and related concepts were identified as agent, recipient, context, procedure, goal and dynamics. Data collection was conducted by means of a comprehensive literature search of all available national and international literature and included theories, textbooks and articles. Data saturation was achieved after no new information surfaced, n=188. The main concepts, authentic leadership (agent) and social capital (procedure) underwent a comprehensive concept analysis. Related concepts, namely the professional nurse (recipient), South African hospitals (context), positive impact on the triple bottom line (goal) and trust (dynamics) underwent a literature analysis. The theory was graphically portrayed and described by means of a model. The theory was submitted to a panel of experts (n=6). The panel was selected following purposive sampling due to specific inclusion criteria for expertise in social capital, and/or leadership and/or theory construction. The evaluation of the theory was conducted according to a specific framework for critical reflection. Guidelines for the operationalisation of the theory were formulated on a macro-, meso- and micro-level. The final step was the evaluation of the research and recommendations were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Nursing))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

No description available.

As North American cities begin to age, our impermanent building methods inevitably lead to urban decay. Much of the housing stock has an expected lifespan and although this can be extended with proper and regular maintenance ultimately, much of this housing will face the bulldozer. Consequently, we are constantly engaged in the continuing cycle of urban revitalization, striving to keep our cities new and novel. This requires an immense amount of reinvestment and for some neighbourhoods, this is not an issue. This is not the case however for neighbourhoods considered to be ‘in distress’ which, face challenges not seen in more affluent areas. Revitalization efforts in at risk areas need to be more sensitive in their approach as they can displace, gentrify, and otherwise exacerbate the problems. This practicum is an exploration of that approach to renewal in grass roots fashion, using urban agriculture as a means to building community.

This study explored the relationship of migrants’ sociodemographic characteristics and social capital with HIV risk to contribute to our understanding of migration and HIV dynamics. The study was undertaken among Rajasthani migrants of age 18 and above in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The data were collected from 1598 migrants through survey method and 73 migrants through qualitative methods from January to June 2007. Having casual partners, sex with a sex worker and no or inconsistent condom use with sex worker were used as the measures for HIV risk. There were significant differences among migrants. Mumbai had more people in the higher age category, married and with longer duration of migration. Ahmedabad had more migrants who were younger, unmarried, with regular jobs and more workdays per month. Migrants in Mumbai and Ahmedabad differed in the nature and content of social capital. Bonding and linking social capital were higher in Ahmedabad than Mumbai while bridging social capital was higher in Mumbai than Ahmedabad. Migrants engaged in high risk behaviour in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad had more people reporting having casual partners (251; 31.6 percent vs. 134; 16.7 percent), sex with a sex worker (138; 17.4 percent vs. 80; 10 percent) and irregular or no condom use (96; 12.1 percent vs. 27; 3.4 percent) than Mumbai. Migrants at destination place had five times higher chances of having sex with a sex worker than villages. The nature of job, steady or fluctuating income and mode of salary receipt were the common significant variables in both Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Social capital was associated with the three HIV risk measures in overall, domain and component forms; however, the relationship was complex. HIV risk was mediated by ‘buddy’ and ‘daddy’ culture in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, respectively. Presence of senior community members in Mumbai lowered the risk in Mumbai while membership in buddy networks led to higher risk for migrants in Ahmedabad. In conclusion, migrant was not a homogenous category. The differences in sociodemographic characteristics and social capital informed the differential HIV risk in migrants. It is important to understand migrants’ lived experiences to plan effective HIV prevention programs.

The transformation from an industrial to a knowledge age has brought about a fast-changing world-focus and a competitive economy. The nursing profession, as part of the larger economy, is challenged by this transformation due to globalisation, internationalisation, capitalism within a consumer society, an ageing workforce, staff shortages, international migration and advanced technology. It is argued that these challenges are impacting directly on the nursing profession as a part of the global economy. This impact is intensified due to the ethos of nursing that is evaluated from a profit perspective and does not value the core values of nursing, that of caring and trust. The managerial strategies that are applied in nursing does not sufficiently harness and direct nurses. Focus is placed on nurse leaders as crucial role players in directing the nursing profession in peril. A call was made by followers for a different type of nurse leaders to lead this challenged profession, in an international arena. Social capital, being an abstract and multi-facet concept is presented as a possible framework to assist with the above crisis. Extremely limited literature was found on the utilisation of social capital to develop nurse leadership amongst these challenges. The research question, and later comprehensive aim, was formulated to examine how a theory in Nursing Science for authentic leadership embedded in a social capital framework, can be constructed. Theory construction of a middle-range theory was conducted in three phases. Phase One implied concept identification, descriptions, definitions and analysis. The actual theory construction was achieved in Phase Two, whilst Phase Three detailed the theory evaluation and guidelines for operationalisation. Main and related concepts were identified as agent, recipient, context, procedure, goal and dynamics. Data collection was conducted by means of a comprehensive literature search of all available national and international literature and included theories, textbooks and articles. Data saturation was achieved after no new information surfaced, n=188. The main concepts, authentic leadership (agent) and social capital (procedure) underwent a comprehensive concept analysis. Related concepts, namely the professional nurse (recipient), South African hospitals (context), positive impact on the triple bottom line (goal) and trust (dynamics) underwent a literature analysis. The theory was graphically portrayed and described by means of a model. The theory was submitted to a panel of experts (n=6). The panel was selected following purposive sampling due to specific inclusion criteria for expertise in social capital, and/or leadership and/or theory construction. The evaluation of the theory was conducted according to a specific framework for critical reflection. Guidelines for the operationalisation of the theory were formulated on a macro-, meso- and micro-level. The final step was the evaluation of the research and recommendations were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Nursing))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.