This study investigates socio-cultural factors that impact the lives of highly creative writers, specifically, novelists in a specific socio-cultural context, Turkey. Research objectives included the investigation of the definition of creativity, creative processes and products by highly creative Turkish writers, and socio-cultural factors that influenced the development of their creativity. The qualitative case study was used and interviews with four participants, or cases, shed light onto the focus of the study. Four novelists who fit certain criteria were selected: (a) they have invented, designed, and produced creative work regularly and their work has influenced Turkish literature; (b) they were Turkish citizens who have lived 75% of their lives in Turkey and received their education in Turkey; and (c) they varied in age and gender. The participants were Yaşar Kemal (85, male), Adalet Ağaoğlu (81, female), Mario Levi (51, male), and Latife Tekin (51, female). Interviews with the participants were transcribed, translated from Turkish into English, and analyzed. The constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Lincoln & Guba, 1985) was used as the method of analysis. Other documents about the participants were also used as data sources. Results indicate that participants’ views of creativity resemble both Western and non-Western views of creativity and their views of creative processes and products are similar to former research findings on creative individuals and creativity in general. Overarching themes include (a) environmental catalysts that prompted creativity; (b) emotional and professional support networks in participants’ lives; and (c) participants’ self-efficacy. Although environmental catalysts include events that cause both positive and negative emotions, two of the participants emphasize the role of negative feelings, such as anger and sadness, in the stimulation of creativity. The participants have had various sources of support from either certain individuals, such as a teacher or a friend, or groups of individuals, such as their readers. Participants’ self-efficacy emerges from various personality traits such as determination, persistence, rebelliousness, outspokenness, and independence. Findings indicate that education is an important socio-cultural factor that can enhance or hinder creativity and that teachers have a crucial role in the development of their students.

ABSTRACT This research investigated Chinese international students' gambling experiences in New Zealand. It explored why some students become involved in gambling and how their gambling behaviour changes over time. Initial and follow-up interviews were conducted with nine male and three female students. Initial interviews focused on participants' gambling biographies in China and New Zealand. Cultural influences on their gambling experiences, and possible links between the development of gambling problems and their study experiences in New Zealand, were discussed. Follow-up interviews gathered further information on participants' gambling experiences, paying particular attention to their gambling activities over the six months prior to, and then after, the initial interviews. The methodology and analysis in this study were informed by a narrative approach. Findings suggest that Chinese international students rarely reported that they had problems relating to gambling in China. However, some participants in this study presented as problem gamblers in New Zealand. Study shock, acculturation stress, not feeling welcomed by the host society and achievement anxiety, all played a part in participants' problem gambling in New Zealand. These participants claimed that they usually started gambling recreationally, but then gradually shifted to self-reported problem gamblers. Problem gamblers were distinguished by prolonged gambling hours, wagering greater amounts of money, an augmented craving for winning money, and an inability to stop gambling at will in a single session. In this study, many participants who might have a gambling problem, had achieved some success in changing their gambling behaviour. Filial piety, acknowledgement of the importance of family, peer models, the experience of success, and financial hardship were some of the catalysts for stopping gambling. In addition, support from families, the community, professional services and exclusion programmes also assisted participants to address problems related to gambling. Successful re-rooting in New Zealand is significant in participants' post-change life. Positive post-change lifestyles involving aspects such as spirituality, music, study and work, supported Chinese international students to maintain change. This research demonstrates multiple levels of analysis, which adds to our knowledge about the socio-cultural meanings of gambling among Chinese international students. A number of recommendations are made for preventing and reducing the negative consequences of gambling for students.

This project explores the 'maternal migration effect'. Following migration to a high-income country with a low maternal mortality rate, we assume that some immigrant women’s reliance upon maternal practices that respond to a low-income, high-mortality context can adversely affect care-seeking and utilization of treatment facilities. At highest risk in the United Kingdom and Sweden are those from Africa's Horn, particularly Somali women who have experienced diasporic migration. By applying constructivist qualitative methods as proxies for medical anthropology, we propose a framework for identifying socio-cultural factors, and then we explore how these can influence the western facility-based maternity care encounter. Study 1 proposes a conceptual framework to understand why sub-Saharan African immigrants might experience adverse childbirth outcomes in western settings. Analysis was guided by 'naturalistic inquiry method' to explore delay-causing socio-cultural factors to optimal maternity treatment. Delays can result from (a) broken trust underlying women’s late-booking or refusal of treatment interventions, and care provider frustration; (b) over-reliance on poorly-functioning interpreter services that deny women’s access to medical expertise; and (c) mutual broken trust and miscommunication, and limited development of guidelines for treatment avoidance. Limited coherence exists in the perspectives between women and providers about caesarean section and other interventions, refusal of treatment, and coping strategies following adverse birth outcomes. Care providers' held misconceptions about women’s preferences for gender- and ethnic-congruence. Women preferred competent care. Congruent language was identified as the key ingredient for optimal culture-sensitive care. Study 2 applied 'grounded dimensional analysis' and 'functional narrative analysis' to explore pre-migration socio-cultural factors that influence Somali parents' childbearing in Sweden. Women’s delayed care-seeking continues, despite that childbearing is still perceived as life-threatening. Decision-making is shared between the couple. Men more than women trust care providers to fill gaps in their knowledge. The postpartum period showed that fathers play an important role. "Aftercare" concerns include unarticulated sexual aversion combined with loss of traditional kin support. Women's autonomy is enhanced but greater necessity exists for intimate partner communication and reliance upon professional care services. Medical anthropology can provide a complementary instrument for developing qualitative evidence-based strategies that target prevention of adverse childbirth outcomes in European countries.

<p>This thesis investigates the theoretical dimension of fuel transition in developing countries; and assesses the role of socio-cultural factors as determinants of fuel choice at household level. Past research has focused on income as a determining factor for fuel transition, as depicted by the energy ladder model, and the more development oriented energy leapfrogging model. This thesis challenges this notion by providing empirical evidence from Catembe, Mozambique; suggesting that socio-cultural factors are just as important determinants for household energy transition. By applying psycho-anthropologic research techniques, a series of qualitative and quantitative results from 402 households in Catembe, provide a framework for understanding the core factors responsible for household cooking energy choice. It was determined that factors such as taste preferences, cooking practices, local cuisine, kitchen type, gender relations and fuel preferences are culturally determined, and significantly influence on the adoption of modern cooking technologies. To demonstrate the importance for considering such factors, the introduction of an ethanol cook-stove is simulated and evaluated in terms of its applicability to user needs and preferences in Catembe. Results show that despite meeting developmental objectives, the stove falls short in conforming to the culinary traditional of intended beneficiaries.</p>

This thesis investigates the theoretical dimension of fuel transition in developing countries; and assesses the role of socio-cultural factors as determinants of fuel choice at household level. Past research has focused on income as a determining factor for fuel transition, as depicted by the energy ladder model, and the more development oriented energy leapfrogging model. This thesis challenges this notion by providing empirical evidence from Catembe, Mozambique; suggesting that socio-cultural factors are just as important determinants for household energy transition. By applying psycho-anthropologic research techniques, a series of qualitative and quantitative results from 402 households in Catembe, provide a framework for understanding the core factors responsible for household cooking energy choice. It was determined that factors such as taste preferences, cooking practices, local cuisine, kitchen type, gender relations and fuel preferences are culturally determined, and significantly influence on the adoption of modern cooking technologies. To demonstrate the importance for considering such factors, the introduction of an ethanol cook-stove is simulated and evaluated in terms of its applicability to user needs and preferences in Catembe. Results show that despite meeting developmental objectives, the stove falls short in conforming to the culinary traditional of intended beneficiaries.

Suicide in India is a complex social issue and a neglected area by the state. Research has focused on risk factors and the epidemiology of suicide; studies concerning the intersection of culture with attempted suicide are limited. The aim of this study is to explore cultural implications of attempted suicide and its prevention in Southern India by means of comparing and contrasting the accounts of survivors of attempted suicide, mental health professionals and traditional healers engaged in treating people with suicidal behaviour. Methodology: A qualitative design is used drawing on constant comparison method and thematic analysis. The analysis of the data is underpinned by the theoretical concepts of Bourdieu’s work. In-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen survivors of attempted suicide, eight mental health professionals and eight healers from Southern India. Results: Application of Bourdieu’s theory of symbolic power and violence, cultural capital and habitus to the analysis of data revealed the process of constant interaction among visible and invisible fields such as faith, power, control, family, religion and social systems which impact survivors’ disposition to situations. Disparities in gender and role structures within families, financial challenges, health concerns, abuse, and violence were commonly cited factors by all three groups of participants. A few survivors and healers attributed misfortunes and distress to magic, spells and ‘bad times’. Healers and professionals were particularly of the opinion that cultural transition has added to stress among people. Survivors considered religious and traditional methods of support as socially accepted norms. Medical assistance was sought only during apparent ill health. Psychosocial support was very rarely accessed and availed. A lack of awareness among family members and friends to identify mental health concerns and a wide gap between identification of severe stressors and treatment increased the risk of suicide and limited timely intervention. Conclusion: This study identified a set of cultural mechanisms that produced negative impact and led to attempted suicide. The role of culture in causing suicide and attempted suicide is explained by unraveling the dynamics of cultural mechanisms and support processes that survivors experienced and as reported by professionals and healers. This research evidence presents pathways into attempted suicide and a life away from suicide.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Globally, approximately 600,000 infants each year are born with HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of mother to child transmission (MTCT) (UNAIDS, 2001). Whereas there is significant progress in reduction of mother to child transmission of HIV in Uganda, the Western Region of Uganda has low rates of PMTCT service utilization. The progress has been hampered by many factors including low male involvement (MOH, 2005). The main objective of this study was therefore to identify some of the factors that discourage men from participating in PMCT services in this region. The study was conducted in Kibaale District in the Western Region of Uganda for a period of one month in mid 2009. Data was collected using a qualitative methodology. The tools that were used for data collection were key informant in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) guides. Data was collected from PMTCT service providers, women of reproductive age group and men whose partners had given birth during the last year (2008). For the focus groups, a purposive sample of men and women who had some children born in 2008, followed by random sampling from the list of potential subjects was used to select participants. The study sample comprised of three FGDs of women who had given birth in year 2008 and male partners of women who had also given birth in 2008. Each FGD consisted of eight participants. One FGD was with women only, the other with men only, while the third was with both men and women.

No description available.

Cette thèse analyse les pratiques actuelles de l’enseignement de la traduction dans les universités et les écoles professionnelles en Corée, par comparaison avec la situation en France, à partir d’entretiens, de QCM et de l’observation de cours de traduction. L’objectif est de reconnaître les particularités de la situation en Corée et d’en repérer les principales difficultés. Il apparaît que les facteurs socioculturels coréens, tels que la société autoritaire et collectiviste, induisent des cours centrés sur l’enseignant et la passivité des élèves. Nous découvrons aussi le faible niveau de créativité des étudiants coréens du fait d’un recours systématique à la mémorisation et aux QCM dans le système éducatif coréen. L’évaluation orientée processus et l’évaluation diagnostique font largement défaut tant à l’université qu’à l’école professionnelle de traduction, où l’évaluation est sommative plus que formative. Sous forme d’évaluation microstructurelle, les enseignants coréens pratiquent une évaluation globale et variable qui leur est personnelle, par manque de critères précis et concrets d’évaluation et de barème commun ayant force de directive. L’accent est mis sur les compétences linguistiques et textuelles plus que sur les autres compétences, au constat établi que ce sont celles qui font le plus défaut aux étudiants, aussi bien à l’université qu’à l’école professionnelle. Il y a peu de différences entre les étudiants coréens de l’université et de l’école professionnelle en matière de recherche d’informations. Malgré les difficultés particulières affectant les cours de traduction à l’université, la possibilité existe d’y former à la traduction professionnelle. / This thesis analyzes the translation education currently conducted in Korean universities and other highereducational institutions in comparison with those conducted in France. The data is gathered through three methods: interviews, MCQ (Multiple-Choice Questions), and class observation. The purpose is to pinpoint the characteristics of translation education in Korea and to outline the key issues deriving from these particularities. According to the study, socio-cultural factors in Korean society including hierarchy, collectivism, and the cultural tendency to refrain from classroom discussion in favor of professor-centered teaching methods, have led to students’ passive attitude toward learning. In addition, we found that cramming for exams and permanent MCQ assessment in the Korean education system weaken their students’ creativity. Korean teachers place more emphasis on result-oriented, summative assessment than on process-oriented, diagnostic and formative assessment. In microstructural assessment, teachers rely on subjective criteria due to a lack of concrete and precise assessment rules to serve as grading guidelines. In most cases, translation education is dedicated to enhancing linguistic and textual competencies found most lacking among Korean students. Additionally, in terms of information acquisition skills, there are few differences between Korean students in undergraduate programs and those in higher-education institutions. Despite the difficulties of teaching translation, there are still opportunities for professional translation courses at the university.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar, duma forma geral, a produção de conhecimento em Moçambique, tendo em conta fatores educacionais e sócioculturais, perceber de que forma os mesmos influenciam a produção de conhecimento no país. O trabalho não pretende avaliar as políticas educacionais e de ciência e tecnologia, mas partindo delas buscou-se elaborar uma análise sociológica da relação que existe entre o papel da educação e os fatores sociais e culturais na produção de conhecimento e da relevância da ciência e tecnologia para o desenvolvimento do país. Apesar da ênfase dada, em termos de políticas, à importância da ciência e tecnologia para o desenvolvimento, as ações práticas demonstram que o habitus existente no sistema de ensino, condicionado por uma herança colonial onde o conhecimento era transmitido de forma limitada e, pela ausência duma cultura científica que afeta o sistema de ciência e tecnologia e certos segmentos da sociedade moçambicana, contribui para a manutenção duma visão de pouca relevância da atividade científica e tecnológica para o desenvolvimento do país. / Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar, duma forma geral, a produção de conhecimento em Moçambique, tendo em conta fatores educacionais e sócioculturais, perceber de que forma os mesmos influenciam a produção de conhecimento no país. O trabalho não pretende avaliar as políticas educacionais e de ciência e tecnologia, mas partindo delas buscou-se elaborar uma análise sociológica da relação que existe entre o papel da educação e os fatores sociais e culturais na produção de conhecimento e da relevância da ciência e tecnologia para o desenvolvimento do país. Apesar da ênfase dada, em termos de políticas, à importância da ciência e tecnologia para o desenvolvimento, as ações práticas demonstram que o habitus existente no sistema de ensino, condicionado por uma herança colonial onde o conhecimento era transmitido de forma limitada e, pela ausência duma cultura científica que afeta o sistema de ciência e tecnologia e certos segmentos da sociedade moçambicana, contribui para a manutenção duma visão de pouca relevância da atividade científica e tecnológica para o desenvolvimento do país.