Internet social networking sites have been the source of much speculation and controversy in the few years that they have been in existence. These sites (the most popular being MySpace and Facebook) allow their users to create online profiles, with which they can post pictures of themselves and interact with other users via text-based messaging. These sites are especially popular among teens and young adults, many of whom find their lives controlled by these sites. Utilizing the Uses and Gratificatioons approach in combination with the theory of the niche, the aim of this study is to understand the gratifications that are derived from the use of social networking sites, and how those gratifications compare with those obtained from the use of other communications methods (face-to-face communication and e-mail). Additionally, the study explores whether or not there has been a displacement effect for these older media with the introduction of social networking. A sample of 340 undergraduate and graduate students from a large western university were surveyed in-class regarding their use of three communications media (internet social networking, e-mail, and face-to-face communication). Students responded to 25 gratifications statements for each medium, rating how often they had used it for that particular purpose. They also responded to a question regarding whether their use of e-mail and face-to-face conversation has changed since they started using social networking sites. Answers from the gratification statements were subjected to principal component factor analysis using varimax rotation. After throwing out 10 statements due to their incompatibility across the three media, three gratification factors emerged: Gratification Opportunities, Social Utility, and Entertainment. Then using niche formulas, the media was compared across these three factors. Overall, face-to-face communication had the broadest niche, signalling that is best capable of fulfilling media gratifications. It also had the broadest niche in the Social Utility and Entertainment Factor, while e-mail had the broadest niche in the Gratifications Opportunities dimension. The results suggest that social networking may be popular because it acts as a convenient place to hang out — combining its relatively broad niches in Gratifications Opportunities and Entertainment gratifications, but shows little support for a displacement effect caused by its adoption.

This thesis seeks to understand further the effectiveness and profit potential of podcasting. The study combines the theories of uses and gratifications and subjective theory of value to create a model for podcasting's value. The model is put to the test using the Manager Tools podcast as the subject. Data suggest the three main drivers behind perceived podcast effectiveness are pleasure, habit, and information gathering. Relaxation proved to have a negative influence on perceived effectiveness. The audience's willingness to pay was determined by perceived effectiveness, scarcity, and habit. Though not a generalizable study, the conclusion discusses the findings' implications on the podcasting community.

The purpose of this thesis is to assess children's exposure to aggression through popular children's picture books. Little research has been performed regarding aggression in such books. By analyzing 301 picture books, this study found that the average picture book contained 1.36 aggressive acts, and that aggressive acts were more likely to be included in picture books meant for older children. Verbal aggression was the most widely used type of aggression in children's picture books. There was no significant relationship between the type of character (human or nonhuman) and whether the character acted aggressively. Male characters were more likely to be shown aggressing towards other male characters; they were also more likely to be shown using physical aggression and violent ideation. Aggressive acts in children's picture books are more likely to be portrayed as unjustified, with no consequences, and no adult involvement to help resolve the situation. Children's picture books could be a useful tool for parents, teachers, and adults to teach children about aggression and appropriate solutions for resolving conflict.

Two ideas are prevalent in teacher professional development today. Teachers are finding new and innovative ways to incorporate technology into their classroom. The use of video and social media is increasing. One type of pedagogy that has emerged among the blended learning pedagogies is flipped instruction, where students participate in some of the instruction outside of the classroom. Another prevalent idea is the focus on inquiry learning and reform-based mathematics instruction. This pedagogy adheres to the idea that students can use their problem solving skills to understand complex mathematics. This qualitative content analysis outlines how one researcher sought to find a balance between the two ideas. The two ideas conflicted at times, but the researcher ultimately found innovative ways to reconcile those conflicts. The study describes how one fourth-grade class used a website to engage in mathematics conversations in a blended learning environment. This blended learning environment maintained the values of a reform-based mathematics classroom. The researcher found that students engaged in conversation online contained instances where students formed theories, questioned one another's theories, built on the thinking of other students, used precise and formal language, and used evidence to support student thinking. Teachers that implement blended learning or flipped instruction should seek out methods that adhere to an inquiry approach to teaching mathematics. The researcher also found that the development of a student in a particular conceptual understanding may have an impact on the depth of conversation they engage in.

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The purpose of this thesis is to present the different needs that can arise before VR use,and gratifications obtained by consumption. This includes finding out what media content users consume in VR, their motivations for why they consume the selectedcontent, how the choice of VR before other medium affects situations or interaction, and they feel after a session in virtual reality. The theories proven to provide a solid basis for answering the research questions are uses and gratifications theory, and medium theory. The collected empirical data is presented and analyzed within the frameworks ofthese theories, which together with previous research on virtual reality and VRheadsets, support the theoretical framework for this thesis. To gain in depth data of consumers motivations and own experiences, five semistructured qualitative interviewswhere conducted. The interviewees where asked various questions about their social and individual differences, gratifications sought and obtained, and their perception of how VR technology affects different situations and interaction. The collected empirical data is then presented and analyzed within the frameworks of uses and gratifications approach and medium theory. Results of the empirical data showed that the mostcommon needs to be satisfied by VR use are those of exersice, entertainment, practice, social interaction, and relaxation. Those needs are gratified by applications for exersice, entertainment applications, games, simulators, and social applications. The interviewees choose VR before other medium or real life activities because VR is more engaging than working out at home and less timeconsuming than leaving the house to exersice at the gym, more engaging and immersive than pc or console gaming for simulation games, and open in the sense of being able to walk up to strangers and socialize with in the virtual world. The study also showed that not only the technology hardware charachteristics, but also the software design found within the virtual environment, affects situations and interactions in a way that is perceived different and better than software found in other medium like social applications on the phone.

Med utgångspunkt i det förnyade politiska intresse för historieundervisningens innehåll, som följde på regeringens informationssatsning ”Levande historia”, undersöks bilden av 1900-talets folkmord i ett antal läroböcker i historia för gymnasiet från 1990-talet och början av 2000-talet, med särskild tonvikt på vilket urval författarna gör samt vilka förklaringar som presenteras till att de kunde äga rum. Även principerna för urvalet av det kunskapsstoff som förmedlas samt möjliga konsekvenser av detta diskuteras. Den kvalitativa textanalysen utgår från teoretiska begrepp som historiemedvetande och historiebruk, med vissa referenser till orientalismperspektiv som diskuterats i tidigare forskning. Undersökningen visar att styrdokumentens inflytande över läromedlens framställning har ökat sedan 1994 och att förändringen också tagit sig uttryck i en renodling av det europeiska perspektivet i urvalet samt i ett ökat intresse för i första hand Förintelsen, både före och efter 1997 då ”Levande historia” initierades. / With the renewed political interest in the content of history teaching in Sweden as a point of departure, this study deals with how the genocides of the 20th century are represented in Swedish history textbooks, aimed at pupils aged 16-19 years, from the 1990ies and the beginning of the 21st century. The analysis revolves around such theoretical concepts as history-awareness and uses of history, with certain references made to the concept of orientalism, that has been discussed in previous research. The study concludes that the influence of policy makers over the contents of the history textbooks has increased since 1994, which has resulted in a larger emphasis on the European perspective and the Holocaust.

This study was conducted to explore the processes educators in higher education used to ground their design of online instruction using scientific-based research and theory. Literature reviewed suggested reasons educators fail to ground the design of instruction were a lack of formal training in instructional methods, skills, support, and research understanding. The rationale for the study was to (a) increase understanding of how educators use scientific research and theory as a basis in decision-making during design and creation of online instruction,(b)identify best practices, and (c) add to the conversation in the instructional design field. A qualitative case study research design was utilized to interview, review course, and review documents of four participants to capture their viewpoints as to the (a) meaning of; (b) evidence; (c) step by step processes; and (d) problems associated with the processes of grounding the design of online instruction in scientific-based research and theory. Data obtained were analyzed through detailed case description, direct interpretation, cross-case analysis, pattern establishment, and naturalistic generalization. Pedagogy, instructional design, instructional technology, support, and problems emerged as key thematic issues. Findings suggested that although educators were consistent in defining meaning, followed step-by-step processes, and had evidence to support their decisions, they encountered logistical challenges of time, technology and design in the process of using scientific-based research and theory to ground the design of online instruction. The implications for practice from this research were similar to recommendations of other researchers. For this process to be smoother, regular training, peer professional interactions, and support must be present.

Digital hostility has become an issue on social media, while discussing mentalhealth has become more recognized. Previous research has shown that influencersmost likely are not viewed as the ideal victim, thus leading to harassment becominga normalized and accepted behavior directed at them. The aim of this study is,therefore, to find out how the media audiences interact with influencers who openlyhave addressed their mental health issues online. In order to study the interaction, amixed method content analysis has been made on the comment sections of theinfluencers Gabbie Hannas and FouseyTubes TikTok accounts, as well as on thevideo responses made by the audiences. Parasocial interactions- as well as uses andgratifications-theory, were applied to this study due to their relevance to the subjectof interactions between the active audience and media content, or in this case, socialmedia influencers. Study 1, the quantitative content analysis, concluded that amajority of the comments were positive and supportive of Gabbie Hanna, while thecomment section under FouseyTubes videos often consisted of negative comments.The result for this part of the study aligned partly with previous research, whichstated that influencers often are victims of harassment and stalking-like behaviorsfrom the audience. Moreover it concluded that previous research regardinganonymous accounts being more likely to be hostile towards influencers, werecorrect. Study 2, the qualitative content analysis, concluded that a majority ofTikTok users use a negative tonality when making video-responses towards GabbieHanna and FouseyTube. Furthermore, the results aligned with previous researchwhich claimed society justifies digital hostility towards influencers. The observationshowed how the audience, generally, paid low- or no- regard towards the subject oftheir mental health. In conclusion, this study presents how the interaction betweentwo influencers, who have encountered a public scandal in regards to their mentalhealth, and TikTok users can look like. While the study may not be applicable toevery influencer, understanding of how the interaction can, and has, manifested isshown. In addition the study provides more context to how the culture online looksin regards to Gabbie Hanna and FouseyTube.

The popular music duo known as Hooja and DJ Mårdhund was during 2023 known by most of the Swedish population. They won prizes, did interviews and even had their own documentary by the Swedish public service SVT. This was all achieved while the duo was anonymous, only showing themselves with masks and layers of clothes as well as thick northern accents. However, on the 6th of July 2023, their true identities were revealed as well as where they live and how much money they make, in an article written by the Swedishnewspaper Aftonbladet. Before the reveal they had such a huge medial platform where they could express themselves however they wanted but with the article by Aftonbladet it was also revealed that everything they said in the interviews wan´t true. This raised the question, har source criticism in journalism disappeared? Journalism has such a power in society that it is highly important that the information shared is truthful. Without source criticism there is no telling of what is true and what's made up and the power is instead moved from trusted journalistic newsrooms to everyday people who want a place in the paper. The purpose of this study is to in depth analyze how journalistic medias used framing and have portrayed the duo before their identities were revealed. This has been done using a qualitative thematic analysis on four different publications (two of each) by the Swedish public service Sveriges radio and Aftonbladet. The themes found during the analysis were“Characters”, “Source criticism”, “Truthfulness” and “Behind the masks”. The result showed that at least two of the articles gravely lacked source criticism and that the music duo pretty much had free rain to portray themselves however they wanted. Only one of the articles contained a high level of criticism. In the discussion the theories of uses and gratification and framing theory was used to show how media has used the fame of Hooja and how Hooja has used media platforms as a way to market themselves.