Media is used by audiences for more than its simple role as information provider. Audiences have been found to use news providers output in a multitude of ways. It has been found that some audience members have used such output as a way to gain social capital that aids in the generation of feelings of social cohesion with their community. This has been found to be especially true during the impact phase of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane (Perez-Lugo, 2004). Unfortunately what news providers specifically articulate that might have this latent use by audiences has not been studied as much as would be necessary for a concrete understanding of the topic that would aid other news providers in designing output during future disasters. As such, here this paper will explore what the content of the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper articulated during the impact phase of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans that had the potential to serve this latent function for its readers.

Magister Artium - MA / According to migrant research in South Africa, after the advent of democracy in South Africa, in 1994, the country has received an influx of foreign migrants, more especially from the African continent. However, much focus has been on the negative outcomes of the host community and its relationship with immigrants. Recent immigration research labelled South Africa as a xenophobic nation, and much emphasis on xenophobia was in Black South African townships. Although townships in South Africa are widely known for their hostile attitudes towards African nationals, in recent years, townships like Gugulethu have become homes for many African immigrants. This study investigates the integration of foreign migrants into the South African community: a case of Zimbabweans living in Gugulethu, Cape Town. Qualitative research methods’ adopting an in-depth interpretation of the findings was used to answer the research question posed by this study. The research question posed by this study is, in the absence of a strategic plan to integrate African foreign nationals intoSouth Africa society, how do African migrants living in Gugulethu use their social capital to integrate themselves into the local community, which is widely regarded as xenophobic? Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews and observations and data was analysed according to the research questions by making codes and themes. In addition, the number of study participants was 30 people; 25 Zimbabwean immigrants and for comparative purposes 2 Ugandan immigrants and 3 local South Africans were also included. Both convenience and snowballing sampling techniques were used. The study found that despite the challenges faced by migrants in their host community, these migrants used their social capital in the form of social networks to integrate themselves into the host community

Title: Objective barriers and initiation of adults' recreational sport -case of Hradec Králové city Objectives: The aim of the work is to find out the possibilities and offer in matter of sport activities and recreational sport activities of the adult population. The emphasis is on organised activities and their forms on the example city of Hradec Kralove. Also the aim is to find out the interest of the population in Hradec Kralove in both spontaneous and organised sport activities. Furthermore, another goal is to reveal the satisfaction of the target group in the offer of sports and at the same time to define possible obstacles that are mostly the reason for the adult population not to do sports at their free time. Methods: The research combines both quantitative and qualitative methods. In order to reveal the offer in sports activities an analysis was made. Sources of this analysis were mostly the accessible documents and the web sites of the organisations, in some cases also telephone questionnaire. In the second part of the research, which is focused on the interest of the population, an online survey was used. Results: The research carried out the evaluation of the offer of recreational sports for adult population in the city of Hradec Kralove. Furthermore, the questionnaire survey revealed...

Sara, Amatul Sabooh (2020) Exploring place attachment and neighbourhood effects: A case study of Skärholmen and Vårberg, Sweden Urban and Regional Planning, advanced level, master thesis for master exam in Urban and Regional Planning, 30 ECTS credits Supervisors: Danielle Drozdsewski and Eva Andersson Language: English Key words: neighbourhood effect, place attachment, social cohesion, collective efficacy, social ties. Abstract If we take residential neighbourhoods as a space for making social ties and interactions, we can learn a lot about the generated neighbourhood effects on its residents and their subsequent attachments towards neighbourhoods as a place. It is believed that neighbourhoods have an impact on individuals and groups either significant or insignificant. The neighbourhood effect is understood by deeply observing the common trends, norms and similar behaviours, furthermore, by measuring the influence it has on life of its residents. This study intends to explore the relationships between neighbourhood effects and place attachment and is inspired from a bigger project ‘The Neighbourhood Revisited’ (Research programme in Department of Human Geography at Stockholm University, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond 2019-2024) that explores the spatial polarization and social cohesion in contemporary Sweden. The aim of my study is to look at social ties, how it changes over time and what neighbourhood effects we can observe on its residents’ social lives. Neighbourhood effect and place attachment studied together, through the narratives of local residents give many new meanings to both concepts. My focus here is on social aspects of it.

Xenophobia ‘fear and hatred of strangers’ has become part of the international humanitarian agenda with the increased human mobility due to complex emergencies. Nevertheless, there is a knowledge gap in how to address such a complex social problem. Xenophobia has become evident in Colombia, and the UNHCR has responded with the media campaign ‘Somos Panas Colombia’, with the objective to reduce it and promote solidarity toward Venezuelan migrants. My research objective is to identify the social dynamics between the host communities and migrants in this context; then to understand how the UNHCR campaign can interact with these dynamics. The dynamics are categorized into dividers and connectors, through the Do No Harm approach, and discussed from social psychology perspectives. In this manner, we can distinguish which factors can be strengthened, and which can be weakened through campaign activities. Furthermore, in order to identify the optimal conditions for encouraging positive group interactions, the research employs the framework of the Intergroup Contact theory, which suggests that contact under the conditions of equality, common goals, cooperation and institutional support typically reduces prejudice. Such conditions strengthen a common ingroup identity that could include both Venezuelans and Colombians. This systematic thinking undergirds the analysis to understand how to most effectively reduce intergroup tensions and xenophobia, as well as how not to exacerbate it. My findings are that real structural factors, like pressure on the social service systems, combined with perceptions of these to be threatened, exacerbated by media reporting, divide the communities; whilst common interests and values, highlighted by the civil society and credible opinion leaders who display tolerant and positive relationships with migrants help to connect them. Finally, I conclude that the UNHCR has broadly identified the intergroup dynamics and has the potential of effectively addressing them through the campaign content strategies of sending rational-emotional messages that induce empathy and activates solidary behavior, and the communication strategy of building partnerships to reach target populations in an effective manner.

The aim of this study was to examine the managers view on how Covid-19 has affected the social cohesion in organizations. The questions that were in focus in this study was: How did managers experience that social cohesion has changed during Covid-19? Which tools has the managers used to manage the social cohesion during Covid-19? And also, what difficulties does the managers experience that exist around the social cohesion in the organization? The goal with this study was to illustrate the importance of social cohesion in organizations and it will enhance the awareness of management responsibilities. The research methodology follows the hermeneutic approach, which we use to conduct qualitative interviews with eight managers from different organizations. The study´s results have been analyzed based on Randall Collins' theory of interactive ritual chains, Thomas Scheff’s theory of social connections, and Göran Ahrne’s theory of organization.  The results show that the managers did not experience any change in the social cohesion during Covid-19. According to respondents, the new management tool introduced under Covid-19 were the digital tools, for example Teams. Managers experience that in order to strengthen social cohesion, it is increasingly important to express gratitude to employees.

This paper explores heritage killing in the practice of Grindadráp (pilot whale hunting),revealing its relevance to Faroese regional identity. My aim is to identify ‘heritage killing’ inthree aspects; killing is heritage, heritage kills, and heritage is being killed to show the role itplays in the heritage practice of Grindadráp and in turn, how all the different aspects of ‘heritagekilling’ can influence the Faroese identity. I will use the qualitative method of one-on-one subjectinterviews to acquire; beliefs, values, rituals and traditions of the Faroese people, gainingvaluable indigenous data. In this research process, uncovering the people of the Faroe Islands tobe authentically; nature-based, socially bonded within their community, and sustainable intraditions which make up their identity.

-i- Abstract The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-cultural validation of the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) (Carron, Widmeyer, & Brawley, 1985), internationally recognized as useful and contemporary measurement approach to cohesion. The GEQ was originally validated for a sample of North American athletes. In total, the sample consisted of 1 410 adult athletes and trainers (1 019 male and 391 female). A modified direct translation method with protocol analysis was utilised to translate the GEQ from English into Czech. Content validity was analysed and confirmed by content validity ratio method for individual indicators of the questionnaire. The factor structure of the Czech version of the questionnaire, verified by structural equation modelling, did not differ from the original version. The predictive validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by its ability to differentiate between groups of athletes (with diverse levels of perceived successfulness) on the basis of their team cohesion scores. Reliability, measured by the Cronbach's coefficient α, was 0,59-0,69 (for version with positively/negatively worded items) and 0,63-0,79 (for version with positively worded items). The results are discussed in the context of possible cultural differences. For population of the Czech athletes from team...

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