Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 413-429).

Background: The day-of-the-week effect has been a widely studied field ever since the concept was introduced in the early 1970s. Historically, negative returns on Mondays have been the most common finding. In line with improved market efficiency, researchers have started to question the existence of this anomaly. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the weak-form efficiency level within the Swedish stock market by using sophisticated statistical approaches. The authors aim to investigate if the day-of-the-week effect was demonstrated between 2000 and 2017. Method: To properly provide answers to this investigation, a quantitative study has been conducted on the OMXS30. The data has been analysed by using different kind of sophisticated statistical methods such as GARCH and TGARCH. Conclusion: The results show that the day-of-the-week effect was not demonstrated within the OMXS30 during this time period, providing evidence for improved market efficiency.

Ample evidence suggests that day-of-the-week patterns exist in US and foreign equity returns. We extend the evidence on the day-of-the-week effect in equity returns by examining the return patterns of iShares for 17 countries and Standard and Poor's Depository Receipts (SPDRs) to establish whether previously observed predictabilities in equity returns are reflected in iShares' returns. We utilize a split sample to examine return patterns and develop trading rules using the initial subsample. We then test those trading rules out of sample. Empirical results reveal that iShares exhibit day-of-the-week return patterns that can be exploited by informed traders.

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This thesis explores integrating deload weeks into musicians' practice plans to enhance performance and prevent burnout. It investigates the concept's applicability in music practice, drawing parallels from strength training and bouldering. The thesis examines typical practice approaches, methods for measuring exertion, and considers the Sibelius Academy's practice guide as an alternative methodology. Deload week examples, tapering strategies, arguments against deloading, and the author's personalized practice plan are discussed. The thesis emphasizes the importance of integrating deload weeks to optimize musicians' performance and well-being, calling for further exploration in refining practice methodologies.

Background - Welcome to the 2010’s and its visual information culture informing about the century-old ideal of thinness, by sending (almost) exclusively thin bodies down the runway of Paris Fashion Week (PFW). This, while at the same time the academia and mass media are repeatedly articulating the necessity of a more ethical aesthetic within the fashion industry, while the argument that “thinness sells” lack empirical support, while measures are taken around Europe to discourage media bias and encourage healthy bodies walking the, and while the body positivity movement – applauding the diversity of body types – is on the rise in the Western society. Problem - How can it be explained that PFW, as an event organized to communicate the latest trends, and as an institution of a concept that thrives on change, is being stuck in an inertia of thin models? The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the explanations for the idealization of thin bodies in regard to female runway models, to be found in visual representations of PFW. Examining the paradox of the idealization of thin bodies has the potential to reveal the measures necessary to establish practices of ethical representation in the realm of PFW. Method - The search for explanations to the inertia of the thin ideal on the runways of PFW is based upon a qualitative research design and a method of semi-structured interviews. The sample consisted of fourteen people involved in the event of PFW. It is framed within three theoretical perspectives: the trickle-down, trickle-across and trickle-up theories – associated with authors such as Simmel (1957), King (1963) and Blumer (1969a; 1969b); a theoretical view of the relation between fashion, clothes and the body provided by Barnard (2014) and, lastly, the Organizational Ecology Theory presented by Hannan and Freeman (1977; 1989). Findings - The findings suggest that the inertia of the thin ideal on the runways of PFW is explained by the thin body not only being part of a long history and tradition of creating and showing fashion, but also being dressed in aesthetic value. At the same time, the explanations to the idealization, or inertia, of thin bodies on PFW are found to be multiple as well as paradoxical, a conclusion serving as an explanation in itself. Conclusion – It is difficult to point out the explanation to the inertia of the thin ideal – both in terms of factors and actors – not at least due to the explanations stemming from both social and cultural as well as economic aspects of fashion. As a consequence, every actor part the fashion industry need to understand the effects as well as the extent of idealization of thin bodies, and start to realize that public health is more important than profits.

Bibliography: v. 1, leaves 356-387.

Background: It is clear that the fashion industry is experiencing a change as a result of the explosion of social media. Today the four key social media platforms for fashion houses are Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. The society has created a culture around these media platforms, which is referred to as insta-culture. Why read Vogue magazine to find out the latest trends, when social media is covering the runways in real time? A debate about what direction the fashion industry is heading towards is a hot topic of discussion. The fashion industry has gone through changes before but now consumers have become more demanding regarding quick accessibility of fashion. Consumer behavior and the way we consume fashion has changed. An obvious sign of the change within the industry is how fashion weeks around the world have become the most coveted”it” event for celebrities and fashionistas worldwide. Fashion week is a fashion industry event that lasts around one week. The goal is for the fashion industry to network and for fashion houses to share their next season collections. Fashion weeks have traditionally been a closed, trade only-event which highlights promotional and glamorous entertainment events. However, now it is the most important shows that everyone wants to be seen at. What will become of fashion weeks is truly unknown. One thing that is for sure is that the development of social media definitely plays a vital role in the change of the industry. Aims of the research: The broader aim of this research is to analyze through the lens of fashion week, what is happening in fashion week and the driver of change within the fashion industry, social media, and to unravel why we see a change in fashion week now. The second aim is also to investigate in what way the change is affecting the way fashion is displayed at fashion weeks. Methods: This thesis was completed by gathering observations and analyzing interviews, blogs, press, journal articles, social media and observations that focused on the phenomenon of fashion week especially in the New York and Stockholm context. This qualitative method is referring to as Netnography using primarily data gathering from the internet and data from the existing interviews with people from the industry. Results: Social media has affected the fashion weeks in many ways. Today fashion brands have to include social media in their marketing strategy in order to survive in the insta-culture that reflects on the society. The insta-culture has as well resulted in that fashion week has been reinvented to an entertainment event open for everyone. The democratization of the fashion week has in turn resulted in that designers have to change how and when they deliver fashion. Instead of waiting six months for the collections to hit the stores, designers now have adopted a see now buy now model. Contributions: The result of this thesis brings awareness to people within the fashion industry and fashion theories when it comes to what is happening to the industry and how to better support fashion management strategies. Social media has created an insta-culture in the society that also affects the fashion industry. This thesis also highlights the great impact that the society has on fashion even today. This study therefore further develops the sociological theory when it comes to the impact from the society and how it affects fashion.

Satirical news programs are a very popular concept where people tune in to them for a laugh and might leave with a bit more knowledge on the subjects reported. With the popularity of such shows growing the media’s covering of them grows as well. The question is then how the media portrays these satirical news shows. In this study a framing analysis is used to analyse articles by four American news outlets – two traditional and two modern – to assess how the media is portraying the newer satirical news program Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. There has been a lot of research done on how satirical programs affect the world around them but this study instead looks at how the media chooses to portray such a show. The focus is on whether the media treats the program as entertainment or more like another news outlet and what kind of effect that could have on the two genres satire and news. This study shows that the media presents the program as not just a comedy show that makes fun of news but also as a credible source of information. It is portrayed as a bit of both and one is not shown to contradict the other. This indicates that the distinction between genres such as satire and news is blurring which in turn can make it harder for the audience to separate the two and thereby make it more difficult to know what is news and what is not.

Forskningsfråga: Vilka problem försvårar möjligheten att införa en kortare arbetsvecka? Syfte: Syftet med studien är att identifiera problem som mellanchefer förutsätter försvårar möjligheten att införa kortare arbetsvecka Metod: Studien är genomförd utifrån en kvalitativ forskningsmetod med en induktiv ansats. Det empiriska materialet består av sju stycken interjuver med mellanchefer i olika organisationer. Slutsatser: De kategorier vi har identifierat ligga till grund för problem är gemenskap och tillhörighet, normer,legitimitet, styrning, produktivitet och teknologi, kostnader samt hälsoaspekter. De vi har funnit är de alla hör samman och påverkar varandra och skapar ett problem för införandet av förkortad arbetsvecka. Mellanchefens komplexa situation är också en faktor för att det upplevs som problematiskt att införa förkortad arbetsvecka. / Research question: What problems limit the possibility to implement shorter working weeks? Purpose: The purpose with the study is to identify problems that the head of the department presume limit the possibility to implement a shorter working week. Method: The study is conducted on the basis of a qualitative research method with an inductive approach. The empirical content consisted of seven different interviews with the head of the department of their organization. Conclusions: Problems have been found to occur within the different categories community and belonging, standards, legitimacy, management, productivity and technology, costs and health aspects. We have found out that all of these affect each other and create problems when it comes to implementation of shorter working weeks. The head of department have shown to be a complex role to handle and has also been perceived as a contributing factor to why an implementation of shorter working weeks is so problematic.