This dissertation has the main purpose of analysing the biggest single musical educational project in Sweden, so far, Radiokonservatoriet (the Radio Conservatory) from an educational perspective. The project was planned and carried out in 1965–68. This was a time of change in Swedish society. The economy was stronger than ever which had made it possible to let education expand explosively. At the same time, the subject of music in schools was in trouble since the previous and obvious religious legitimacy had faded with secularisation. A lack of music teachers and a lack of relevant higher education in music were well known problems. The expectations were high on an educational project that was going to use media and new methods. Musicology was supposed to build the core of music teaching. In spite of the tough education with three new programmes every week, 132 students managed to conclude all the three courses and were awarded a diploma. In the analysis, I have used concepts from the theory of distance education. With great distance between teacher and pupil, the former has to create strong ”structure” and explicit declarations of how the material is formed in the sense of selection and progression. On the other hand, great distance creates a free space where the pupil can choose autonomously: where, when, and what to study. The Radio Conservatory was well aware of the pedagogic imperatives of the time: ”activity” and ”integration”. The included exercises show different activities of registering, analytic and creative kinds. Singing and playing instruments were not included as ”activities”. The integration of the project consisted of the fact that the three courses were given simultaneously. This gave advantages, but made the education extensive and disregarded the intention of blending different school subjects, which was the established pedagogic intention. The essentialistic striving to create a music subject built on musicology was fruitless. In the 1970s the interest in material theories and teaching content was marginalised in favour of formal theories. My proposal is that both these sides of interest, the material and the formal side of music education, should be balanced.

The aim of this thesis was to investigate what an intervention comprising systematic discussion groups meant in the context of conflicts and cooperation between social care staff and nursing staff, over a period of 7–15 months. The intervention was carried out in four experimental dwellings in special types of housing for elderly and disabled people and in comparison with four similar reference dwellings. Results are based on 27 interviews prior to the intervention and 29 after. The interviewees were managers, registered nurses, enrolled nurses and care assistants and concerned their experiences regarding problematic situations that occurred in their everyday work. The questionnaires (before n=84 and after intervention n=93) used were: sense of coherence, job-satisfaction and burnout and were aimed at investigating staff experiences of working climate and the influence of the intervention. The issues were investigated both before and after the intervention. Observations were used to determine whether they could provide further knowledge about the intervention and thus extend our understanding of the marginal differences in the complementary studies. The phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation of the narratives in the interviews shows that the intervention was important to the experiences of being in problematic situations. The results before the intervention and in reference dwellings are equivalent and elucidate staff members' struggle to retain their self-esteem and to be confirmed by their colleagues. The experimental dwellings narratives show a change from rejecting to confirming communication among colleagues. Moreover, subtle changes are present which point to an emotional closeness where attempts have been made to understand colleagues' perspective and reactions where the residents are the central concern in the narratives. An analysis of the content of the interviews after intervention shows equivalent changes in experimental dwellings and reference dwellings. The analysis shows that the staff's view of problematic situations had been softened and that they viewed their colleagues as less of a hindrances. There were no mentions made of the previously indicated conflicts between social and nursing staff. The results also show that staff members are not afraid to stand by their own ideas of how they should act in various situations. The staff experience of the working climate was positive both before and after the intervention and no significant differences could be seen. What stands out from the observation study is that the groups have different cultures and thus different prerequisites for the intervention. In two of four groups the intervention seemed to give rise to positive meanings regarding the staffs´ understanding of each other, necessary for their successful cooperation, but when the groups are in the ”basic assumption phase” other additional strategies are probably also needed. The marginal differences shown in the other complementary studies can be understood in terms of two of the four groups not perceiving the intervention to any large extent. When the internal group processes are of great importance it is essential to pay attention to culture of the staff groups before the intervention is implemented.

The overall aim of the study is to understand and describe the phenomenon ‘atmosphere in care settings’ as experienced by patients, significant others and health care staff. The study consists of four papers, each of which illuminates various aspects of the phenomenon. Data consisted of observations and interviews with patients, significant others and staff (n=126) within a hospice, a geriatric, a medical and an oncology setting, and community care settings for older people. Narrative analysis, grounded theory, and phenomenological hermeneutics were used in a triangular fashion to analyse the data. The findings illuminate the phenomenon ‘atmosphere in care settings’ as being constituted by two interacting and interwoven dimensions: the physical environment and people’s doing and being in the environment. The physical environment is the first dimension, and five aspects were illuminated, namely the physical environment as a symbol; as containing symbols; as influencing interaction; as facilitating a shift of focus from oneself to the environment, and; as containing scents and sounds influencing experiences of at-homeness or alienation. People’s doing and being in the environment is the other dimension, and five aspects were illuminated, namely the experience (or absence of experience) of a welcoming; of seeing and being seen; of a willingness to serve; of a calm pace; and of safety. It was understood that people’s doing and being influences experiences of the physical environment and that the physical environment influences experiences of people’s doing and being. The comprehensive understanding illuminated that the phenomenon is not merely subtle qualities of the place for care, but an active part of care. Both the physical environment and peoples doing and being conveys messages of caring and uncaring. The atmosphere of a care setting can at best support experiences of at-homeness in relation to oneself, others and the surrounding world.

Avhandlingens övergripande syfte är att tolka och beskriva innebörder av stöd, utifrån att vara förälder till barn med funktionsnedsättning och att vara professionella stödjare. Datainsamling har skett i form av berättande intervjuer med 39 föräldrar (23 mödrar och 16 fäder) och 9 professionella (7 kvinnor, 2 män) från olika verksamheter. Samtliga intervjuer har analyserats med hjälp av fenomenologisk hermeneutisk metod. Innebörder av att vara förälder till barn med funktionsnedsättning (studie I) har tolkats som en medvetenhet om viktiga värden i livet. Barnet har ett inneboende värde som en unik person och föräldrarna strävar efter att göra sitt bästa för barnet. Denna strävan innebär att konfrontera oro, osäkerhet och rädsla i vården av barnet och andra personers nedvärdering av barnet. I föräldrarnas strävan att tillmötesgå barnets olika behov, ingår också att anpassa egna behov efter barnets. Den fördjupade förståelsen av studiens resultat är, att det handlar om en strävan att möjliggöra för barnet att leva ett gott liv. Innebörder av att få stöd av professionella (studie II) har tolkats som att föräldrar och barn blir bekräftade som värdefulla personer och att föräldrarna uppnår trygghet och kompetens i föräldraskapet och får ett hopp för barnets framtid. Erfarenheter av att inte få stöd, medför en kamp mot de professionella, för att kräva det stöd som föräldrarna anser att de och barnet behöver. Innebörder av att vara professionell stödjare (studie III), består av att ha personlig filosofi, som är integrerat i sättet att vara och handla som stödjare. Det innebär att vara trygg i hoppet om att det alltid går att göra något för att hjälpa, genom att söka unika lösningar i den aktuella situationen. Tillit till föräldrar som partners och att få deras tillit, samt att möjliggöra för föräldrarna att uppnå kompetens och trygghet i vården av sina barn är andra innebörder. Detta har tolkats som en frihet från att vara bunden av byråkrati och prestige och en möjlighet att vara äkta, följa sin filosofi och att vara i samklang med barn och föräldrar. Innebörder av informellt stöd (studie IV) har tolkats som en livsberikande gemenskap, där barnet, innefattas i kärleksfulla relationer med närstående och har en naturlig plats i samhället. Att som föräldrar kunna dela glädje, oro och sorg med andra personer och att få möjlighet att uppleva lättnad och spontanitet i det dagliga livet, är andra innebörder av informellt stöd. Helhetsförståelsen av de fyra studierna är, att stöd av professionella i sin tur är ett stöd i föräldrars etiska förpliktelse i deras strävan att möjliggöra för barnet att leva ett gott liv. Informellt stöd betyder att föräldrar och barn är inneslutna i trofasta och berikande relationer med andra. / The overarching aim of this thesis is to interpret and describe the meanings of support for parents from the context of being a parent of a child with disability. The data collection is based on narrative interviews with 39 parents (23 mothers and 16 fathers) and nine professionals (seven women and two men) from various areas in the health care system and local authority. A phenomenological hermeneutic method guided the text analyses. The meanings of being a parent of a child affected by disability (study I) have been interpreted as awareness about important values in life. The child has an intrinsic value as a unique person and the parents are striving to do their best for their child. This striving means confronting worries, unsafeness and fear in the care of the child and confronting other persons’ devaluation of the child. Adjusting the parents’ own needs to those of the child and orchestrating the child’s various needs are other meanings. The deepened understanding of the result of the study is that the parents are striving to enable the child a good life. Being supported by professionals (study II) means experiences of the child and oneself as being confirmed as valuable persons. Moreover, it enables parents to gain confidence and competence in their parenthood and hope for the child’s future. Experiences of lack of support give rise to a struggle against the professionals, aimed at getting the support the parents regard as necessary for their own and their child’s needs. The meanings of being a supporter (study III) were interpreted as being and acting according to a personal philosophy, which is integrated in the professional task, and believing that it is always possible to help by searching for unique solutions in the current situation. Trusting the parents as partners and enabling the parents to gain competence and confidence in the care of their children are further meanings. The deepened understanding of being a professional supporter is to be in tune with one’s philosophy and the child’s and parents’ needs. The meanings of informal support (study IV) were interpreted as experiences of being involved in true relationships with other persons. This enables the child and the parents to be in a life enriching togetherness. The interpreted whole of the studies is that being a parent of a child affected by disability means to strive for the fulfilment of the ethical obligation to enable the child to have a good life. To be supported by professionals means receiving help to fulfil the ethical obligation. Being a professional supporter means to be and act in accordance to the unique child and parent and the present situation. Informal support means to be involved in a natural human togetherness.

This thesis’ main theme is the relationship between teacher training, distance education, ICT and community. These aspects of an educational practice are conceptualised within a hermeneutical approach as aspects of edukation. The thesis consists of eight articles. These are all related to one specific teacher training programme, in the thesis considered as being one demarcated social context, and treated as a single case. In articles I-III, different theoretical conceptions are elaborated upon both in relation to the discipline of Education (in Swedish Pedagogik), and in relation to the hermeneutical approach. Articles IV-VIII reports on the analysis of several data-gatherings, understood as being parts of an embedded case study. Teacher trainees on the programme have responded to a questionnaire, and have been interviewed. Teacher trainers organising the programme have been interviewed, and governmental and local policies concerning both teacher training and distance education were included. The data were gathered with the intention of enabling an understanding of the conditions through which the teacher trainees understand their societal commission, as a strive for upholding and developing legislated constitutive values, such as multiculturalism, equity, democracy and freedom. All in all, the aim of the thesis is to present an overall understanding of the process of edukation, the establishment of an educative relationship between the individual and the society in distance-based teacher training. The analysis points towards an understanding that emphasises the possession by trainees of competencies that include self-sufficiency, self-direction in their learning and self-confidence providing independence from their fellow trainees, their trainers and society at large. Being assessed primarily on an individual basis does not seem to encourage the trainees to take a collective responsibility for their learning. The trainees seem to associate the social dimensions in the programme primarily to feelings of being at ease, rather than to aspects of learning. Seen as an overall aspect of a process of edukation, the norms and values developed when the trainees negotiate meaning and values appear, in this context, to promote individuality. Additionally, this understanding seems to apply to aspects of democracy as well. Having been able to regard the teacher training programme from different theoretical positions over time, and to consider the teacher trainees and their studies as belonging to a learning community; the Online Learning Community that intersects the issues of learning and technology with the issues of values and society, one might ask; is this then a story of community? If the trainees’ views on education and learning stem from a sense of community, then it might be that of a community as a place of belonging. This could be why the trainees regard the sense of being at ease in the study-group as being more important than the aspects of learning in the study-group. Learning might incorporate conflicting views and contrasting standpoints that potentially challenge the study-group and their sense of belonging. Feeling at ease and taking an inclusive stance might then be one way of ensuring that the group provides what it promises: a safe and warm place. This could be contrasted with the way community implies a strong normative tendency to embrace while disciplining, or as the trainees put it; you may belong here if you adjust to the norms of the group. This in turn begs the question: what is the ethical stance taken in a community, society or study-group? In this thesis, one possible interpretation of this matter is provided.

Being affected by a serious or life-threatening illness implies an existentially changed situation that is accompanied by a number of questions about the illness itself, consequences of the illness in an everyday context and implications for the future. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine people’s meaning-making when they are affected by a serious illness and to determine how the illness acquires meaning in the context of their lives. The dissertation thus deals with what can be referred to as existential meaning-making. A hermeneutical approach was adopted, drawing more specifically on Paul Ricoeur’s narrative theory that emphasises the importance of different dimensions of time and memory in the understanding of narratives. An empirical study was carried out of illness narratives collected in research interviews with six women who had been diagnosed with serious illnesses, such as cancer, stroke and heart attack. The analysis reveals that the discovery of the illness and the period following was characterized by chaos and a lack of time perspective, feelings of lack of freedom and thoughts about death, but also feelings of responsibility towards the family. Experiences of the health services were also important in accounts of this early period, particularly wishes for more empathic encounters with the professionals. In the women’s accounts of the long term living with the illness, death continues to emerge as a back drop to their everyday experiences of the illness, but gradually more as confronting the problem of death rather than giving up life. Over time, relationships to significant others and the importance of everyday life also constitute increasingly important themes. In their expectations for the future, the women account for some experiences that have been important in creating a sense of hope and heightened vitality, and thus a new ‘wholeness’, such as being close to nature as well as their religious or spiritual experiences. These results are discussed in terms of how memories of significant events or places play an important role in existential meaning-making, and also how reflections on these memories can be seen as a process of existential ‘learning’.

Dental involvement with oral cancer patients during their treatment and rehabilitation can be long and intense. How can dental personnel better understand their role in the treatment of these patients? How does treatment affect the patients and their spouses? In searching for answers, the theories of phenomenography, phenomenology and hermeneutics are used to describe and interpret the experiences of the hospital dental treatment teams, oral cancer patients, and their spouses. Study I reveals that hospital dental treatment teams perceive the encounter with head and neck cancer patients in three qualitatively different ways; as an act of caring, as a serious and responsible task, and as an overwhelming emotional situation, indicating that they are not always able to lean on education and professional training in dealing with situations with strong emotional impact. Study II gives insight into the lifeworld of oral cancer patients, and how the patient becomes embodied in a mouth that is increasingly `uncanny´, as it slowly ceases to function normally. Study III shows that oral cancer puts a hold on the lifeworld of the patients’ spouses which can be described as `living in a state of suspension´. These findings suggest that the support needs of patients and spouses appear to be greatest at treatment end, when, upon returning home, they are faced with the accumulated impact of the patients’ sickness and treatment. Study IV gives insight into what it may mean to live with the consequences of oral cancer, revealing a silent physical, emotional and existential struggle to adjust to a changed way of living. This thesis raises the question if todays’ organisation of oral cancer care can meet the varying emotional and existential needs of treatment teams, patients and spouses that were brought to light.

No description available.

The desire and need for historical representation in postmodernism are coupled with the self-reflexive acknowledgement of our inability to faithfully represent the past. This dissertation examines the ways in which certain historical events are represented in postmodern fiction. More specifically, it introduces the term ‘distortion’ to designate various ways that postmodern authors have attempted to convey traumatic and violent histories through intentional permutations of historical facts. In this study, I analyse six texts, representative works that present the multi-faceted nature of what I call ‘distorted’ historical fiction. Each text is devoted to one of three historical events: the Holocaust in Martin Amis’s Time’s Arrow and Art Spiegelman’s Maus; the Chilean dictatorship in Diamela Eltit’s Lumpérica and Isabel Allende’s La Casa de los espíritus; and finally, the Algerian War of Independence in Kateb Yacine’s Nedjma and Mohammed Dib’s Qui se souvient de la mer. The analyses of each text are guided by three main questions: How is the depicted history distorted in the narrative? Why is the historical reality distorted? And lastly, what are the hermeneutical effects for the reader of engaging with the distorted historical text? I contend that these historical fictions apply various modes of distortion to create a specific and often peculiar effect on the reader. These include distortions of narrative form and voice, as well as distortions of temporality and space. I argue that the reader’s encounter with distorted historical fiction creates a peculiar hermeneutical effect of ‘defamiliarisation,’ which has affinities with Viktor Shklovsky’s use of the term and Bertolt Brecht’s ‘V-effekt.’ The sense of defamiliarisation creates a conflict in readers, in which their foreknowledge of a past event clashes with the event's distorted depiction. This conflict demands that the reader be responsible, implying that the reader should not be ‘swept away’ by the distorted narrative. Instead the responsible reader is encouraged to interact with the text, apply previous historical knowledge to correct said distortions, and through this interaction gain a greater intimacy with the past.

In this thesis I characterize, through an analysis of some of the key themes and central insights of both Charles Sanders Peirce’s pragmatism and Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics, what Bernstein (2011) has called a “sea change” in contemporary philosophy. I illustrate how their main insights are profoundly educational and how they offer us an effective means of reconceptualising what education means within the context of our world today. I will particularly stress two important elements of this ‘sea change’ that figure prominently in both Peirce and Gadamer’s work. First, the central importance of situated agency, and second, the affirmation of a relational process ontology. When taken together, these insights entail a conception of education that radically affirms the transformative potential of human agency based on the fecundity of educational experience. This ‘sea change’ will be presented in juxtaposition to the problematic modern/Cartesian framework that is current in educational thought today.