Millennials are the newest generation to enter the workforce. When Millennials enter organizations, managers construct perceptions about Millennials’ communication behaviors, including their characteristics and adherence to organizational rules. These perceptions help managers decide Millennials’ organizational fit. A review of literature revealed a scarcity of empirical research in this area with little empirical research from communication scholars who apply communication frameworks, theories, and concepts. This research used the lens of social constructionism to understand the membership categorization devices and category-bound activities managers use to characterize Millennials. In order to better understand how Millennials conform to and change organizational culture, data were reviewed for those normative and code rules managers described Millennials violating. In this qualitative, exploratory study, 25 managers who were 31 years of age or older that worked in the hospitality industry and managed Millennial (18 to 30 years old) employees were interviewed through a snowball convenience sample. Interviews were transcribed and patterns were identified. Data analysis indicated that “kids,” “age group,” and “Millennials” and variations of the Millennial term were used to categorize Millennials. Analysis of category-bound activities showed patterns in Millennials’ desire for learning and training, mixed preference for teamwork often affected by their liking for peers, and needs for frequent, clear, personalized feedback. With respect to rule violations, data showed that some organizations were adapting their cell phone policies in response to Millennial rules resistance. However, organizations were not willing to accommodate Millennials’ rule violations in either the area of time-off requests or uncivil behavior due to organizational codes. iv Keywords: Millennials, social constructionism, membership-categorization devices, categorybound activities, communication rules, organizational assimilation

Gymnasiereformen Gy11 genomfördes hösten 2011 med fem introduktionsprogram för de elever som inte är behöriga till de ordinarie nationella programmen. Syftet med studien är att belysa hur introduktionsprogrammens verksamhet har organiserats vid två gymnasieskolor, samt de beskrivningar som finns av eleverna hos personalen. Artikeln består av två fallstudier där personal har intervjuats med semi-strukturerade intervjuer och dokument har studerats. Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt är socialkonstruktionism. Studien visar att skolorna håller på att utveckla organisationen, men att det ännu återstår en hel del att göra. Att kombinera teori med praktik ses ofta som en framkomlig väg för många elever. Samtliga deltagare betonar vikten av engagemang, närhet och goda relationer till eleverna för att få dem att växa som människor och stärka elevernas identitet. / Upper Secondary School Reform, Gy11, was carried out in autumn 2011 with five introductory programs for those students who were not authorized to mainstream national programs. The purpose of the study is to illustrate how the introductory programs have been organized at two upper secondary schools, and how the students are described by the staff. The article consists of two case studies where staff has been interviewed with semi-structured interviews, and documents have been studied. The theoretical starting point is social constructionism. The study shows that schools are developing the organization, but there is still a lot to do. Combining theory with practice is often seen as a viable option for many students. All participants stress the importance of commitment, proximity and good relations to make them grow as people, and to work to strengthen the students’ identity.

Vårt samhälle är under en ständig förändring och digitaliseringen är ett faktum, vilket ställer krav på verksamma förskollärare. Syftet med denna studie är att synliggöra de diskurser förskollärare tar i bruk och skapar samt hur förskollärare positionerar och legitimerar sig i frågan om användning av digitala verktyg i förskolan. Metoden i föreliggande studie är kvalitativ, där semistrukturerade intervjuer med förskollärare som arbetar i fyra olika kommuner på förskolor i Sverige har utförts. Studien är inspirerad utav socialkonstruktionism, som menar att språket är socialt konstruerat och analysmetoden i denna studie är inspirerad av diskursanalys, vilket är en metod som kan användas för att analysera tal och text. I studiens resultat går det att utläsa att det framkom motstridiga diskurser i förskollärarnas tal om användning av digitala verktyg i förskolan, där en del av förskollärarna talade om det som en utmaning, medan andra talade om det som en möjlighet. Det framkom även diskurser kring villkoret för att använda digitala verktyg, vilket innebar att där ska vara ett pedagogiskt syfte, slötittande var inget som var eftertraktat. Vår slutsats är att förskollärarna positionerar och legitimerar sig i motstridiga diskurser när de talar om användning av digitala verktyg i förskolan. / Our society is undergoing constant change and digitization is a fact, which places demands on active preschool teachers. The purpose of this study is to make visible the discourses preschool teachers use and create, as well as how preschool teachers position and legitimize themselves in the issue of the use of digital tools in preschool. The method in the present study is qualitative, where semi-structured interviews with preschool teachers who work in four different municipalities at preschools in Sweden have been carried out. The study is inspired by social constructionism, which means that language is socially constructed and the analysis method in this study is inspired by discourse analysis, which is a method that can be used to analyze speech and text. In the results of the study, it can be deduced that conflicting discourses emerged in the preschool teachers' speeches about the use of digital tools in preschool, where some of the preschool teachers spoke of it as a challenge, while others spoke of it as an opportunity. There were also discourses about the condition for using digital tools, which meant that there must be an educational purpose, casual viewing was not something that was sought after. Our conclusion is that the preschool teachers position and legitimize themselves in conflicting discourses when they talk about the use of digital tools in the preschool.

This research aimed to investigate the contributions of emotions and Emotional Intelligence (EI) to social work practice with children and families in Malaysia. A mixture of methods within an ethnographic approach was used. The Assessing Emotions Scale (AES) (Schutte et al., 2007) was completed by 105 child social workers. The levels of EI and differences in EI according to certain demographic characteristics were identified. Individual interviews with 25 child social workers were conducted to explore their perceptions concerning emotions and EI in the workplace. Observations were carried out over a period of three months to investigate how emotions were expressed in terms of behaviour. The quantitative results showed that levels of EI were high (mean=131.69, SD=12.483). The workers were reported to be emotionally intelligent in perceiving emotions, dealing with their own and others’ emotions and utilising emotions in their professional conduct. There were no significant differences by gender (p-value=0.367>0.05), marital status (p-value=0.694>0.05), age group F (d=3, 101), P>.05=1.468) or length of service F (d=4,100), P>.05=0.331), but there was a difference with regard to educational level F (d=3,101), P<.05=6.878). The qualitative research findings seemed to show that skills in empathising, expressing and regulating one’s and others’ emotional experiences, as well as religious practice factors, contributed to EI. The qualitative research findings also revealed the strength of religious beliefs in Malaysian social workers, which facilitate the qualities of EI. The present study implies that the spiritual and religious dimension of practice should not be ignored in social work education and training.

No description available.

<p>This dissertation offers a critical analysis of State Anti-Racism in Ontario, Canada, from 1990 - 1995. Particular attention is paid to the politics surrounding the emergence and operation of a dedicated provincial agency - the Ontario Anti-Racism Secretariat (OARS). The study highlights the central role of social problems work and claims making in the determination of anti-racism policy.</p> <p>The nature of state anti-racisms in distinct areas of programming is accounted for in terms of the claims making activities of the parties involved in the policymaking process. I argue that stakeholders' influence on the nature of anti-racism initiatives varied depending on the particular realm of policy or programming under examination. State agents determined the nature of anti-racism in some areas, while community stakeholders held sway in other areas.</p> <p>The research draws on a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of the state and racial inequality from sociology, political science, and policy studies. Qualitative methods including open-ended interviews and content analysis of archival materials are used to account for different dimensions of state anti-racisms.</p> <p>Empirical evidence for this study comes from accounts provided by key players involved with anti-racism in Ontario including representatives from community groups, the Ontario Public Sector (OPS), academia, media, and the Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP). Materials housed at the Canadian Jewish Archives and the Provincial Archives of Ontario were also used.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how women experience midlife. Social constructionism, which fits within the postmodern tradition, was the epistemological framework informing this study. Participants were asked to provide their life stories in text form. Texts were interpreted using the hermeneutic method of analysis. The researcher attempted to understand the midlife experience from the perspective of each participant whose meaning, attitudes and ideas have developed within a social context, keeping in mind that the researcher's own social context, ideas and values affected the interpretation of the texts. The research results add a new perspective to the `grand narrative' of midlife as a `crisis'. The new `voice' speaks of the possibility of positive development - of overcoming adversity; taking control; re-assessing life; breaking old patterns; discovering peace; putting down roots; confronting reality; gaining independence and finding new meaning. / Psychology / MA (Clinical Psychology)

Teenage pregnancy is an ever increasing dilemma in South Africa. Dealing effectively with pregnant teenagers is a continuous challenge for the health care providers particularly the nursing staff. The present study focuses on the reproductive health care services in a Gauteng province clinic and pregnant teenagers' experiences of their interaction with the nursing staff. Six pregnant teenagers were included in the study. Data consistied of the participants' narratives regarding the health care services provided by the nursing staff. Themes from the narratives were identified and explored according to a Social Constructionism stance within the Postmodernist paradigm. Factors found to affect the experiences of the pregnant teenagers included acceptance, respect, effective communication, privacy, trust and the dedication and professionalism of the nursing staff. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences (both professional and personal) of the therapist who is visually impaired or blind. This is a post-modernist dissertation contextualised within the ecosystemic-hermeneutical epistemology. These paradigms are two sides of the same coin and emphasize a social constructionist worldview. A descriptive methodology within the domain of language and narrative discourse is utilised in accordance with this worldview. The narratives of two research participants were recounted through the researcher's lens within particular `dimensions of understanding'. These `dimensions of understanding' were interpreted, deconstructed and co-constructed (with the research participants). Thus this dissertation operates simultaneously on a number of different levels which emphasises the social constructionist worldview. This also allowed for the hermeneutic-ecosystemic analysis of these `dimensions of understanding' as method of data analysis. There are also emerging `dimensions of understanding' from the researcher's own perspective and personal experience as a visually impaired therapist in training. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Dissertation / The impact of stranger rape on the victim and those close to the victim is widely researched. However, little data is available on couples’ experiences of stranger rape and their relationships in the aftermath of such trauma. The researcher aimed to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the unique experiences and relationship dynamics of couples dealing with stranger rape in order to enhance what is known about these couples. A qualitative research methodology was employed which consisted of conducting unstructured in-depth interviews with each of the three participant couples as well as obtaining individual written reflections from each participant. The study explicated unique descriptions of each couple’s experience of stranger rape, illuminated the interconnectedness and recursiveness between the rape and the couples’ relational and system dynamics and identified possible systemic effects at play in these couples’ relationships in the aftermath of such trauma. Key terms: stranger rape, couples, post-traumatic stress disorder, relational dynamics, systems, family systems theory, qualitative research, hermeneutics, social constructionism, postmodernism / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)