Syftet med uppsatsen är att bidra med kunskapsutveckling kring hur ”crowdsourcing” idag används och upplevs som ett stöd för att säkra och utveckla kvalitet inom svensk krisberedskap. Detta uppnås genom tillämpning av en explorativ, pragmatisk och abduktiv ansats av mixad metod. Insamlad empiri utgörs av en enkät med respondenter från 119 kommuner samt fyra kvalitativa intervjuer. Resultatet visar att crowdsourcing inom ramen för svensk krisberedskap inte är ett känt begrepp bland de responderande kommunerna men att intervjupersonerna känner till begreppet i relation till krisberedskap. Idag tillämpar Malmö Stad och Krisinformation.se crowdsourcing inom ramen för deras krisberedskapsrelaterade verksamhet, pilotförsök med crowdsourcing-liknande metoder pågår hos SOS Alarm. Västerås Stad diskuterar området inför eventuell framtida utveckling. Den verksamhet som idag bedrivs inom krisberedskapsrelaterad crowdsourcing inom Sverige är begränsad till endast ett fåtal aktörer som bedriver verksamhet eller pilotförsök. Crowdsourcing som generellt begrepp är ännu inte välbekant bland många svenska kommuner och än mindre ur ett krisberedskapsperspektiv. Vidare finns det kvalitetsmässiga farhågor över till exempel inmatning av felaktiga data som genererar följdkonsekvenser. Det teoretiska ramverket presenterar flera olika forskningsområden som kan tillämpas för att lösa dessa farhågor. Det uppsatsen tillför forskningen är ett sammanställt utgångsläge utifrån existerande forskning och praktisk erfarenhet med goda möjligheter för framtida forskning (eller tillämpning) inom ett för Sverige synnerligen ungt och outforskat forskningsområde. / The purpose of this thesis is to add to the development of a knowledgebase concerning how crowdsourcing is used and experienced as a support to secure and develop quality within Swedish societal crisis management. This is accomplished by applying an explorative, pragmatic and abductive approach of mixed theory. Collected data consists of one survey with 119 respondents (municipalities) along with four qualitative interviews. The result show that crowdsourcing within Swedish societal crisis management is not known by the survey respondents but known within that context by the participants of the interviews. Malmö City and krisinformation.se applies crowdsourcing methods as a part of their crisis preparedness operation today, trials with crowdsourcing-like methods is conducted by SOS Alarm and last Västerås City are discussing this area for potential future development. Crisis related crowdsourcing operations within Sweden today are reduced to a few actors conducting either regular operations or trials. Crowdsourcing as a general term is not yet well known among many Swedish municipalities and even less known with a crisis preparedness perspective. Additionally, there are quality related concerns such as input of erroneous data leading to further consequence. The theoretical framework presents several research areas that can be applied in solution to such quality concerns. This thesis addition to research is a compiled platform based of existing research and practical experiences with plenty of room for future research or practical application within a for Sweden particularly young and unexplored field of study. / <p>2017-06-28</p>

This thesis examines the realisation of archetypes, symbols and mythic processes reflected in the musical discourse of selected 20ftt Century stage musicals with a hero theme, namely The Fantasticks, Camelot, Jesus Christ Superstar and Man of La Mancha. Of these, Camelot and Jesus Christ Superstar are mythically by far the more complex, so these will receive correspondingly far greater attention to background, immediately prior to their musical analyses. Insofar as the mythic language of symbols is heavily invested with description, the text reflects this investment. The purpose of this research has been to examine the way in which composers of the 1960s and '70s have revealed symbolic entities inherent in the dramatic plots of these musicals without necessarily being academically aware of deliberately revealing these entities. This being the case, the symbolic grammar and structural psychic elements evident in the musicals could be said to elicit a symbolically related compositional response conveyed in musical structures. Furthermore, the implications of the mythic choice of the hero theme itself and how this is conveyed both in the drama and in compositional choices are examined and discussed in an attempt to comprehend the Zeitgeist of the era, and how its representation In a popular musico-dramatic genre contributes to our insights into human and societal health. / Thesis (DMus)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Music / unrestricted

Despite depression having become such a common phenomenon in our modern-day life, there is still much that the social work profession needs to learn about it, in order to facilitate a process that will enable clients to deal not only with the immediate effects of depression but also with the changes it might bring about with regard to their families. The majority of the research conducted thus far appears to have focused on depression in women, with precious little attention to the experience of depression by male sufferers. By way of this study, the researcher aims to address these problems. It is interesting to note that we still do not really know precisely what meaning men’s family roles, such as that of fatherhood, actually hold for them. As anyone who has studied depression will know only too well, people’s perceptions of the world and of themselves change with the onset of depression. It is therefore quite possible that perceptions regarding family roles may similarly be subject to change. This study attempts to find answers to questions such as these with a view to improved future research and therapy. Constructivism forms part of a broad post-modernist approach to the social sciences. In particular, it emphasizes the importance of personal construct creation as well as the development of such construct through social processes. With its use of narrative and metaphorical techniques, it offers a unique glimpse into the construct system of the interviewee. In an effort to explore the meanings and experiences of men who are struggling with depression, three case study narratives obtained from selected persons are offered. By way of a co-construction of these stories, certain conclusions are arrived at, leading to specific recommendations for future practice and research. / Dissertation (MSD (Research))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

With the rich history of territorial conquest on the island of Malta, each regime has left its mark on the small archipelago, especially with each linguistic conquest, a new language was formed, influenced and fortified to what we know now as Maltese. Within this thesis we will identify the factors of these regimes which have led Malta to become a bilingual nation. This thesis investigates the Maltese language situation along with the status of the social and individual characteristics the theories of bilingualism adhere. In order to address how Malta has become a functional bilingual society, theoretical measures of both societal and individual bilingualism will be explored. The thesis applies research methodology with special participation of University students and staff from the University of Malta. Together they help bring insight in answering just how Maltese and English are encouraged in the Maltese social strata. It shows just how it is maintained individually by understanding the environmental mechanisms put in place by the Maltese government as well as how it is encouraged at home. Furthermore, it explains how the policies help the languages continue to coexist and form a functional bilingual society.

Aggressive behaviour seems to be an extensive and severe problem negatively affecting both the victims and the offenders. Many factors affect aggression. In this study, one factor was examined: self-identity, in relation to societal strain and emotions. The study aims to explore the relations between self-identity (what do we think we are) societal strain and emotions with aggression. A theoretical exploration of the importance of self-identity in relation to aggressiveness and more specifically, explore the significance of additional concepts as a potential marker for the predisposition to aggressiveness. Also, verifying if these concepts are a stronger contributor than obstructor to aggressiveness. Evidence from interdisciplinary literature is used to answer the questions in this degree project. This thesis is based on a set of relevant scientific papers. Two theories, General Strain theory and Self-Control/bond theory, contrasted with the idea of self-identity. Findings - Self-identity influences the performance of an individual in everyday scenarios. Not being able to obtain a goal and improve our social status, can result in a higher probability of looking for illegal options. Further, there is a difference in the way emotions affect aggressive conduct and the way this conduct is expressed between genders. Finally, one's self-identity seems to be a relevant marker for the predisposition to aggressiveness. This thesis provides insights to some of the most important markers for the predisposition to aggressiveness in society.

Every other youth in Sweden doesn't feel included in society. Youths don't feel represented or visible in the societal development, and urban planners find it hard to include youths in planning processes. Therefore this paper aims to explore the methods, challenges and possibilities concerning youth-inclusion in the urban planning of the swedish municipality of Linköping. The study is conducted through a thematic analysis of interviews with employees at the planning department of Linköping, as well as a content analysis of strategic documents produced by the department. The results found that the municipality uses a plethora of different methods to include youths in planning processes, but they face challenges regarding low turn-ups, communication barriers as well as trying to sustain the youth perspective in an adult-driven process. The study found that methods for involving youth have to be adapted to the target group. However, youths are often generalized into a single group targeted with the same methods, but individual differences should be accounted for. In practice, that approach is resource-intensive. / Varannan ungdom i Sverige känner sig exkluderad i samhället. Ungdomar känner sig inte representerade eller synliga i samhällsutvecklingen, och samhällsplanerare finner det svårt att inkludera ungdomar i planprocesser. Studien syftar till att utforska de metoder, utmaningar och möjligheter som Linköpings kommun har gällande involvering av ungdomar i den fysiska planeringen. Studien baseras på en tematisk analys av intervjuer med anställda på kommunens planeringskontor, samt en innehållsanalys av strategiska dokument utgivna av planeringskontoret. Resultaten visade att kommunen använder sig av en mångfald av metoder för att inkludera ungdomar planprocesser, men står inför utmaningar angående antalet unga som deltar, kommunikationsbarriärer samt vikten av att bevara ungdomsperspektivet i processer som drivs av vuxna. Metoder för ungdomsinvolvering måste anpassas för målgruppen. Ungdomar generaliseras ofta som en grupp, men individer har olika preferenser vilket borde speglas i metodvalet. Det är i praktiken ett tillvägagångssätt som är resurskrävande.

Researchers are increasingly drawn to the study of societal bilingualism (or multilingualism), which is the study of the specific nature of bilingualism practiced by a nation, state, province or territory. Such studies seek to identify the institutions and legal frameworks put in place to regulate and reproduce bilingualism, as well as to understand groups which practice bilingualism. Drawing on a descriptive approach that flows from a sociological model of critical theory and conflict theory, this study is based on societal bilingualism in Cameroon, the only other country in the world, apart from Canada, that has both English and French as its only official languages. Cameroon is also one of the few African countries that do not have a local language as an official language. Acknowledging the central role of texts and their analysis in understanding social practices, this case study is carried out using critical document analysis to examine previous research, mass media products, government reports, historical data and information, laws, orders, press releases and speeches to uncover the precise nature of official language bilingualism in Cameroon. The study offers insights into the relevant historical and language background against which a critical discussion on official language bilingualism and an analysis of the legal frameworks and institutions set up to regulate and reproduce this bilingualism can be carried out. Attention is given to translation policies and to the most recent measures taken to foster State bilingualism in Cameroon. Indeed, official language bilingualism has been heavily predicated on translation, its institutions and legal framework. This timely case study traces the nation’s failure, as witnessed by the current situation of unrest, to successfully implement, mainly through translation, an official language bilingualism policy that grants equal status to English and French across the national territory. This research concludes that an alternative solution would be to introduce bilingual education as well, particularly from the nursery and elementary school levels, given that, for a long time now, Cameroon has had early simultaneous bilinguals who speak both English and French before they attain school age. A brief comparison between the context of official language bilingualism within the educational system in Cameroon and in Canada highlights the fact that Cameroon has the potential to establish one of the strongest forms of bilingual education in the world.

In the context of increasing technologicalization and the growing interconnectedness of our world through social media, this thesis aims to answer the question, why is disinformation not being sufficiently handled in the United States in the wake of the foreign meddling in the 2016 Presidential Elections, and what can and should be done about the threat? This master thesis therefore aims to delve into the inherent vulnerabilities in the U.S. societal fabric, and thus conduct an in-depth explanatory case study model analysis of what should be done to further combat and counteract disinformation and election meddling within the country. The author argues that disinformation and election meddling are not only a serious security threat, but are also not being properly handled as they are only being addressed technologically, and not through the realm of information, and societal resilience. This thesis therefore argues that strategic communication, which should be redefined and expanded in definition, should be used to combat disinformation campaigns to prevent further election meddling. The author posits that a two-level approach is best, one which aims to negate the negative disinformation campaigns through a single governmental body, while also addressing the root causes through education.

The Ancient Mesopotamian society is often pictured as the cradle of society. It is surroundedby the rivers Euphrates and Tigris and has given life to an agricultural civilization that hasproduced the oldest preserved literary writing of our time, the Epic of Gilgamesh. In thisqualitative research paper, I intend to explore similar stories to expand the understanding ofthe Mesopotamian religion and its deities.Metaphorical literature, as with the Epic of Gilgamesh, represent society’s understanding ofits surroundings and thus portrays deities as reflections of its values and cognitive thinking.As an example, kingships of Mesopotamia were depicted as gods, and gods as kings, duringthe third millennia B.C. The prevailing political setting of monarchs demanded protection ofits citizens against outside threats. Wars were common during this era and thus walls werebuilt around the cities. The deities acted as protectors of the citizens as well as the kings. So,the metaphorical literature created during this time reflected upon this societal system.The analysis of the paper does not only intend to investigate the understanding of deities inrelation to the physical world, but also intends to elaborate the current understanding of thosedeities. Previous research has tried to explain and understand the Mesopotamianpandemonium in its completion despite the religion having produced nothing that can beexplained in a systematic structure. Instead, I argue, that the anthropomorphic Mesopotamiangod system needs to be further analyzed in relation to the society itself. Many metaphoricstories do not separate mankind to gods, and so this paper’s purpose is to further specify thecurrent Mesopotamian definition according to such keystones.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) provides a framework for reorienting education towards sustainability. The ESD framework is criticized for reproducing rather than transforming unsustainable systems, thus a critical analysis of the framework is crucial to understand its role in reorienting education towards sustainability. To this end, we contribute to an understanding of the role of ESD through the lens of experts who are reorienting education towards sustainability. These experts use various approaches at regional, national, and/or international levels. Based on thirteen semi-structured interviews, we find two strands in the understanding of ESD. The first strand reflects the importance of the framework in reorienting education, and the second strand reflects on ESD as part of a larger movement. Furthermore, we flag a critical need for a democratic process of reorienting education towards sustainability, to progress transformative change through ESD. Lastly, our findings suggest a need to consider the individual experience of those involved in bringing ESD into practice.