<p>Syftet med studien är att belysa hur barn i åldrarna tre till fem år tänker kring genus. Barnen fick lyssna på sagan ”Prinsessan Papperspåse” (Robert N. Munsch, 1980) och intervjuades sedan med utgångspunkt från sagan. Resultatet visar att barnen tänker relativt lika kring genus oberoende av kön och ålder. Både flickorna och pojkarna hade tydliga föreställningar om vad som är ett acceptabelt uppträdande av det motsatta könet. Framför allt hade de klara tankar om hur en flicka ska se ut om hon ska gifta sig. Att vara smutsig är för barnen inte acceptabelt, vare sig man är flicka eller pojke. Utan undantagsvis lade flickorna fokus på relationen mellan prinsessan och prinsen medan pojkarna lade fokus mer på draken och prinsen.</p>

Research studies indicated that differences in cognitive processing style influence individual behavior on various types of tasks. This study investigated the effect of the cognitive style dimension, field independence-dependence, on the metacognitive functioning of individuals involved in three problem tasks which varied in inherent structure. Twenty-six subjects were randomly selected from a pool of one hundred and two pre-service teachers who completed the Group Embedded Figures Test to determine levels of field independence-dependence. Subjects were asked to verbalize their thinking while solving three types of problems. The think aloud protocols were analyzed using a coded analysis technique. The Checklist of Metacognitive Behavior (CMB) was the classification system developed to perform the coded analysis. The CMB contained four major categories: planning, monitoring, evaluation and affect. Criterion behaviors in each category were identified in the protocols from surface language structure. Behaviors identified in the protocol analysis were assigned points. Analysis of variance was used to compare mean scores from the CMB for total and category scores on each problem. Significant differences were found between field independents and field dependents for total and category scores on problem one, the puzzle-type problem. No differences were found between the groups on the semi-structured and ill-structured problems. Field independents exhibited a greater number and variety of monitoring and evaluation behaviors on the structured problem. Cognitive style preference had no significant impact on the type and number of metacognitive behaviors observed on the semi-structured and ill-structured problems. / Graduation date: 1990

Sexual conflict and condition-dependent trait expression have emerged as major themes in sexual selection. There is now considerable evidence suggesting that both conflict and condition-dependence can drive the evolution and expression of sexual traits; still, important questions remain concerning the extent to which conflict shapes sexual traits and the role of condition in mediating conflict. Here, I address these two themes in studies of a ladybird mating system. One set of studies investigates the function and economics of potentially antagonistic traits – nuptial gifts and female mating resistance – while another examines condition-dependence in mating resistance and male ejaculate composition. Nuptial gifts are often considered beneficial to females, but recent thinking suggests they may also allow males to manipulate females, raising the possibility of conflict. I demonstrate that male ladybirds benefit from nuptial feeding by their mates through reduced re-mating frequency. Benefits to female reproduction and lifespan, however, are weak or non-existent. These results show that although males gain from transferring gifts that influence female behaviour, females experience neither harm nor benefit. I next tested the hypothesis that nuptial feeding is maintained – despite an absence of benefits – because female foraging is generally elevated after mating. However, although females indeed display strongly increased foraging after mating, this response did not increase nuptial feeding. Recent studies suggest that individual condition may affect the economics of mating and extent of conflict. Female ladybirds vigorously resist mating, and I show that (1) resistance is condition-dependent, with low-condition females displaying more resistance, and (2) resistance functions to minimize superfluous matings (sexual conflict), rather than to select among males (indirectly benefiting females). Resistance generates selection favouring large males; thus, this work demonstrates that ecological circumstances, through influencing condition, affect the strength of sexual selection. Finally, male condition may influence investment in ejaculate components, but condition-dependence in ejaculate composition is currently poorly understood. I show that, in agreement with theory, males in poor condition transfer smaller ejaculates that nonetheless contain more sperm, but less seminal fluid. Taken together, this work highlights both the value of economic studies in evaluating sexual conflict, and the significance of condition-dependence for sexual selection.

Research suggests that the position of subsidiaries within the multinational corporation (MNC) network has been strengthened over time and as a result, the subsidiary’s ability to exert influence over decisions taken by headquarters and other MNC entities has improved. One of the drivers behind this changed corporate structure is the need of the MNC for innovation, which has lead MNC headquarters to recognize entrepreneurial activities at subsidiary level. In this paper, the connection between subsidiary entrepreneurship and subsidiary influence is examined and it is argued that internal traits held by subsidiaries, which promote entrepreneurial performance, can function as a resource that other entities within the MNC network become dependent upon. From this dependence, influence is received by the subsidiary holding this resource, in accordance to resource dependence theory. Hypotheses are formed and tested using data collected through 60 questionnaires completed by subsidiary managers. The analysis suggests that a quite large portion of the influence subsidiaries obtain can be explained by their internal entrepreneurial capabilities. Recommendations for future research are suggested.

Bakgrund: Substansberoende är ett växande folkhälsoproblem som kräver allt större resurser i dagens hälso- och sjukvård. Detta leder till att dagens sjuksköterskor möter personer med substansberoende i större utsträckning än tidigare. Sjuksköterskeutbildningen omfattar oftast inte kunskap om substansberoende och studier visar att bristande kunskap kan påverka personalens attityder till olika patientgrupper vilket i sin tur kan påverka både den givna vården och vårdmötet. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa vilka attityder sjuksköterskor kan ha till att vårda personer med substansberoende inom somatiska vårdmiljöer. Metod: Studien är en litteraturöversikt, som utifrån tidigare forskning, belyser sjuksköterskors attityder till att vårda personer med substansberoende. Översikten är baserad på sju vetenskapliga kvalitativa och kvantitativa artiklar, som både kvalitetsgranskats och analyserats. Resultat: De artiklar vi fann pekade på en negativ attityd hos sjuksköterskor till att vårda personer med substansberoende i somatiska vårdmiljöer. De mest framträdande attityderna är att det är en krävande patientgrupp, och att det inte känns meningsfullt att vårda dem. Diskussion: För att kunna uppnå bättre vårdkvalitet och förbättra vårdmötet till patienter med substansberoende behövs det enligt resultatet en attitydförändring hos sjuksköterskor. Kunskap, erfarenhet och en känsla av mening i vårdandet av patientgruppen verkar vara viktigt och diskuteras enligt Antonovsky´s KASAM teori. / Background: Substance dependence is a growing health problem. As a result, nurses encounter people with substance dependence to a greater extent than before, while the nursing education has only limited focus on substance dependence. Studies show that a lack of knowledge can have an impact on nurses’ attitudes towards different patient groups, which also seems to affect the care provision and the nurse-patient encounter. Purpose: The aim of this study was to illuminate nurses’ attitudes in caring for people with substance dependence in somatic healthcare settings. Method: The study is a literature review, based on, in all, seven qualitative and quantitative empirical studies. The studies were quality assessed and analyzed. Results: The results indicate that nurses in somatic healthcare settings generally have a negative attitude towards caring for people with substance dependence. The most prominent attitudes were that it is a difficult group to care for, and that caring for them does not feel meaningful. Conclusion: In order to provide a high quality care for this group, a change of attitudes is required. Knowledge, experience and a sense of meaning in caring for this group, seems essential, and is discussed in the light of Antonovsky’s theory, Sense of Coherence.

Sexual conflict and condition-dependent trait expression have emerged as major themes in sexual selection. There is now considerable evidence suggesting that both conflict and condition-dependence can drive the evolution and expression of sexual traits; still, important questions remain concerning the extent to which conflict shapes sexual traits and the role of condition in mediating conflict. Here, I address these two themes in studies of a ladybird mating system. One set of studies investigates the function and economics of potentially antagonistic traits – nuptial gifts and female mating resistance – while another examines condition-dependence in mating resistance and male ejaculate composition. Nuptial gifts are often considered beneficial to females, but recent thinking suggests they may also allow males to manipulate females, raising the possibility of conflict. I demonstrate that male ladybirds benefit from nuptial feeding by their mates through reduced re-mating frequency. Benefits to female reproduction and lifespan, however, are weak or non-existent. These results show that although males gain from transferring gifts that influence female behaviour, females experience neither harm nor benefit. I next tested the hypothesis that nuptial feeding is maintained – despite an absence of benefits – because female foraging is generally elevated after mating. However, although females indeed display strongly increased foraging after mating, this response did not increase nuptial feeding. Recent studies suggest that individual condition may affect the economics of mating and extent of conflict. Female ladybirds vigorously resist mating, and I show that (1) resistance is condition-dependent, with low-condition females displaying more resistance, and (2) resistance functions to minimize superfluous matings (sexual conflict), rather than to select among males (indirectly benefiting females). Resistance generates selection favouring large males; thus, this work demonstrates that ecological circumstances, through influencing condition, affect the strength of sexual selection. Finally, male condition may influence investment in ejaculate components, but condition-dependence in ejaculate composition is currently poorly understood. I show that, in agreement with theory, males in poor condition transfer smaller ejaculates that nonetheless contain more sperm, but less seminal fluid. Taken together, this work highlights both the value of economic studies in evaluating sexual conflict, and the significance of condition-dependence for sexual selection.

The reform of the European Commission has been on the EU agenda for more than three decades. The attempts to introduce an overhaul of the Commission’s institutional structure has been motivated predominantly by the fact that the efficiency of the functioning of the European Commission has been in decline. Despite the striking need to restore the Commission's efficiency, which has become even more urgent in the last decade, the attempts to improve its modus operandi have been marked by many obstacles, difficulties and delays. This thesis aims to analyze and explain why the process of reforming the European Commission has been so problematic. In order to achieve this goal, the theoretical framework of historical institutionalism has been utilized. More precisely, we mainly build on the work of Paul Pierson, whose concepts help us understand the reasons behind the failure of a number of reform plans regarding the Commission and clarify why the institutional structure of the European Commission is characterized by a high degree of stability.

The centre of interest is the discussion concerning development and free trade in Nicaragua. This thesis rests on theories of Wallerstein, Hammarskjöld, Dahl, and Heidenheimer, and its purpose is to spell out opinions on free trade and predict the future development of Nicaragua. With the title “How will free trade affect the development of Nicaragua?” and the starting point in Hammarskjöld’s way of dealing with development, my questions at issue are: • Is there a correlation between free trade and development? • How will the DR-CAFTA (Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement) affect democracy and corruption in Nicaragua? Opinions are found in articles on the Internet; chosen by a variant of strategic selection. They are analyzed with Content analysis; quantifying words in a coding frame and highlighting key quotes. The prediction of the future development is done according to Delphi Technique and intends to speak only for the articles included in the investigation. This Bachelor Thesis has come to the following conclusions: • There is a correlation between free trade and development in Nicaragua. • There is governmental belief that the DR-CAFTA will improve democracy and grass root fear that the existing democracy will be out watered. About corruption, it is hard to tell. • Nicaragua is likely to develop economically, as trade and foreign investment will increase. People in general are likely to profit, though unjust. Democracy will probably be strengthened, even though there are deep concerns about the way politics are done today. Corruption and transparency has a 50% chance to improve.

In 2002, the euro as a common currency did replace the national currencies in the EU member-states that did choose to take part in the EMU. It was then viewed as one of the greatest accomplishments ever to be made by the EU. However, during the latest years, the economic situation has deteriorated in several EMU member-states. This affected the whole euro-area and the current situation is referred upon as the euro-crisis. In 2011, at the time of the euro-crisis, the Heads of State or Government of the euro-area did reaffirm their full commitment to strengthen EMU. This essay seeks to answer why the EMU is maintained despite severe economical difficulties. The purpose of this essay is to reveal that path dependence is seen in the EU decision-making about the EMU. To fulfill the purpose the method used is process-tracing. To study the EU decision-making this essay applies the theoretical framework provided by Allison and Zelikow. This theoretical framework studies decision-making from three different vantage points. The findings of this essay reveal that in each vantage point an institution can be found that shape behavior and results in path dependence.

Understanding the composition and distribution of the revenue of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) is key to understanding NPOs themselves. This research uses revenue data for 87,127 charitable NPOs to draw three main conclusions. First, revenue structures of NPOs vary widely by subsector and organizational size, with many NPOs demonstrating revenue structures that might be considered uncharacteristic of the nonprofit sector. Second, despite the concerns of many nonprofit scholars, heavy dependence on either government funding or charitable contributions is atypical of NPOs. And third, nonprofit revenue is highly concentrated in relatively few NPOs. The description of revenue expands to examine the relationship between two important sources of revenue, charitable contributions and government subsidies. Nonprofit scholars have long theorized that government funding diminishes charitable giving. This research finds that the effect of subsidy on charity varies substantially among the nonprofit subsectors, but, contrary to widely accepted theory, these effects are more often positive than negative: More than half of government funding of the nonprofit subsectors appears to spur an increase in charitable giving, whereas only 6 percent of government funding is associated with decreased giving. This research suggests that effects of subsidy on charity are less likely due to the decisions of donors than to the decisions of NPOs themselves. These findings assuage some concerns about the future of the nonprofit sector but substantiate others. As government increasingly relies on NPOs to deliver government-funded services, it appears unlikely that NPOs will suffer decreases in charitable giving, and government funding may even enable NPOs to increase revenue from charitable giving. But marginal changes in charitable giving will not mitigate what many see as a distressing move away from reliance on charity toward generating fees for services and generally becoming more business-like. Whether these findings represent a nonprofit sector betraying its charitable roots, diluting its power to effect social change by corporatizing, emphasizing service delivery at the expense of advocacy, or becoming more efficient, financially stable, and responsive to market demands remains a matter of debate, but debate better informed by the understanding of nonprofit revenue provided by this research.