Abstract Educational leaders who have an awareness of social justice are those who advocate for and achieve more equitable schools. School leader preparation programs that focus on social justice may help to improve schools, systems, and society (Dentith & Peterlin, 2011; Boske, 2012; Marshall and Oliva, 2006; Shields, 2004, 2010, 2012). For the purpose of this study, social justice is defined as fairness in terms of distribution of wealth, social privileges and opportunities within society. Some school leaders experience transformative processes which increase their critical awareness or consciousness during their formal preparation. What is not known is the extent to which social justice and transformative learning are salient characteristics of leader preparation programs- even those with an explicit social justice focus. Informed by Capper, Theoharis, & Sebastian’s (2006) framework for preparing educational leaders for social justice, this explanatory case study for dissertation examined a single educational leadership preparation program with an explicit social justice focus to explore the ways in which social justice is operationalized. Data was collected from multiple sources, guided by the following research questions: How can a stated commitment to social justice and transformation (transformative learning) be operationalized in a graduate program of study? and What perceptions do graduates have of the operationalization of a social justice-oriented school leader preparation program? Data was collected via nine semi-structured one-on-one interviews as a primary source for capturing participants’ perceptions of the program and its impact. It examined the in-place curriculum, pedagogy, and assessments that participants felt contributed to their development as socially-just school leaders. In addition, participants shared aspects of the program which they feel most effectively promoted their own critical consciousness, knowledge and skills. This study also utilized data from print sources (program overview and course syllabi) to provide additional information about the program. This research adds to the scholarly discussion of educational leadership development (in theory and practice). It focuses on the processes of developing an understanding of diversity and equity during preparation of socially-just school leaders. Finally, there are suggestions for further development of Capper, et. al’s (2006) framework for preparing social justice school leaders. This further developed framework, informed by leaders in the field, should be used to guide the development, review and improvement of programs that prepare school leaders for social justice.

HIV/AIDS is widely spread in Zambia. Numerous organizations work to disseminate information about how individuals can prevent themselves and others from infection. Youth Vision Zambia (YVZ) is a non- governmental organization that works from Lusaka, Zambia to increase knowledge about sexual reproductive health and rights among young people aged 10-24. This qualitative case study explores which means of communication strategies YVZ uses to reach and inform their target group about Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) by interviewing staff working for the organization. A qualitative survey was also conducted where 29 respondents belonging to the target group answered questions regarding the information about SRHR they have received from YVZ, how they were reached and if they find the work of YVZ of importance. In order to also get a perception about the interpersonal communication channels YVZ use I attended four meetings arranged for young people where the purpose was to discuss sexual health related issues conducting participant observations. In addition, YVZ put an extensive effort on providing an SMS-short code system which allows people to send questions related to SRHR and in turn get answers from a YVZ councilor. The aim was to seek answers to whether the users had found the SMS service useful or not. The results show a variety of different communication tools that YVZ uses in their daily work and in the light of previous research on communication for development and social change and health communication an analysis was carried out. / HIV/AIDS har stor spridning I Zambia. Ett flertal organisationer jobbar med att sprida information om hur individer kan förhindra sig själva och andra att bli smittade. Youth Vision Zambia (YVZ) är en icke- statlig organisation som verkar i Lusaka, Zambia och jobbar för att öka kunskapen om sexuell reproduktiv hälsa och rättigheter (SRHR) bland unga människor i åldrarna 10-24 år. Denna kvalitativa fallstudie utforskar vilka typer av kommunikationsstrategier YVZ använder sig av för att nå ut till samt informera deras målgrupp om dessa områden. För att göra detta intervjuades personal som jobbar på organisationen. Studien ämnar också undersöka hur ungdomar som tagit del av YVZ’s information uppfattar den, om de anser den värdefull samt hur de fick kännedom om deras arbete, detta gjordes genom att utforma en kvalitativ enkät. 29 enkäter var det som i slutändan användes till sammanställningen av resultat och genomförandet av analys. YVZ jobbar även till stor grad med interaktiv kommunikation i deras arbete i att informera och engagera ungdomar vilket styrde intresset till att även genomföra deltagarobservationer. Vid fyra tillfällen blev således dessa observationer genomförda. Vidare lägger YVZ stor vikt vid att kommunicera via mobiltelefoni vilket visar sig genom deras short message system (SMS) där de erbjuder tjänsten att genom att skicka ett SMS till ett kortnummer innehållande frågor rörande SRHR och genom att göra det få svar och råd från personal från YVZ. Detta resulterade i att en SMS-enkät skickades ut innehållande endast en fråga med syfte att ta reda på om användare av tjänsten har funnit den värdefull eller ej. Resultaten som framkommit genom att tillämpa dessa metoder visar på en variation av kommunikationskanaler som YVZ använder sig av i deras dagliga arbete och i ljuset av litteratur som belyser kommunikation för utveckling och social förändring and hälsokommunikation så lägger denna studie fram en analys angående dessa.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984.

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The key focus of this dissertation is to produce research upon energy and climate change issues in the UK in a policy relevant and theoretically sound way. It aims to inform industry and policy makers to allow politically palatable, successful and effective future energy and climate change policy to be developed by identifying the preferences of the public for different policy scenarios. The Choice Experiment method was employed throughout this dissertation as the consistent methodological approach allowed for greater comparability of the results in addition to allowing the method’s robustness and reliability to be tested. The first part of this research (Chapter 3) is concerned with investigating attitudes and willingness to pay for future generation portfolio of Scotland by investigating household preferences for various energy generating options, such as wind, nuclear and biomass compared to the current generation mix. We identified the Scottish public have positive and significant preference towards wind and nuclear power over the current energy mix. We also found heterogeneity in public preferences depending on where respondents live which is reflected in their preferences towards specific attributes. Presence of non-compensatory behaviour in our sample is another element which was investigated in this part. Chapters 4 and 5 contain analyses of two independent choice experiments which were run in parallel. They take a UK-wide approach and investigate public preferences for more general areas of future energy and climate change policy, such as: carbon reduction targets, focus on energy efficiency improvements and attitudes to micro-generation versus large scale renewable generation. In addition the preferences for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change are investigated. Micro-generation is not often considered by energy companies when it comes to planning their generation strategies and was therefore of particular relevance to this research. As such Chapter 6 identifies the importance that the public places on this particular energy option and how it compares with their preferences towards other key energy and climate change policies of the UK. To analyse reliability of the results and to contribute to the theoretical field of stated preference valuation, each of the experiments contained two overlapping attributes, i.e. increase in level of micro-generation and an increase in total cost to a household, comparison of which was also carried out in Chapter 6. Finally in Chapter 7 the results found in the sections described above are discussed with reference to the policy background in the UK and Scotland. Also issues with the research and areas for further study are identified.

Since the 1970's, the increasing scale and complexity of development schemes has led to mounting public concerns about their environmental impacts. Environmental assessment and management developed out of a recognised need to protect the biophysical environment from overuse and degradation . Evidence suggests that the issues continue to become more complex and we need to equip ourselves to deal with them. The complexity of issues we face today demands a holistic and integrated management approach. This thesis highlights the weakness in the application of environmental impact assessment (EIA) to deal with current issues . The conceptualization of EIA within the ecological modernisation discourse has limited the use of the tool to adequately consider issues outside the biophysical environment. On the African continent, social issues such as HIV/AIDS are becoming more dominant than biophysical impacts. EIA must thus be re-framed to address concerns regarding the HIV/AIDS impact of development schemes. An alternative discourse of social justice is put forward as an approach that will take EIA closer to achieving sustainable development. The hypotheses put forward in the thesis were investigated through the use of both primary and secondary data sources. Extensive interviews and case studies formed the bulk of the data generated through the study. The results of the investigation showed that there are varying views on the purpose of EIA, that social issues continue to be underplayed in the process and that HIV/AIDS is considered a valid impact to be assessed in EIA. It must be noted that although HIV/AIDS is recognized as a common impact of development projects, particularly in Africa , the approach to dealing with the issue has been very different across EIAs and the issue is dealt with in an ad hoc manner. In order to expand the applicability of environmental assessment in Africa , a framework has been developed to integrate HIV/AIDS into the EIA process. The premise behind the framework is that HIV/AIDS can impact on the viability of a development scheme and conversely, development schemes can increase the transmission of HIV. The framework considers the social, economic and cultural drivers that create living and working environments, which promote the transmission of HIV. By applying the appropriate tools throughout the EIA process, one can identify potential impacts. Mitigation and management interventions can then be built into an HIV/AIDS component of the environmental management plan. This approach will allow environmental assessment practitioners; decision-makers and developers to better understand the critical issue of HIV/AIDS and ultimately contribute to managing the pandemic and further sustainable development in Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

South Africa's past industrial decentralisation policies have come under intense criticism for being economically inefficient and an inappropriate means of providing employment. The result of state intervention from the 1970s in the locality of Richards Bay/Empangeni, has led to the establishment of many unlinked, globally competing industries in the area, which the local economy has come to rely heavily upon. Public as well as private organisations of the area have in place many social upliftment initiatives developed in response to the high poverty and unemployment in the area. By employing survey research techniques to collect the necessary data, this research study undertakes a social scientific approach to analysing the socio·economic impact that these industries and large firms have had on the area and documents the current social investment initiatives they have in place. Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives, as a pro-poor response to community upliftment, are firmly placed in the local municipality's LED strategy, and from which, the area now receives considerable benefit. Results show that there is a positive public·private partnership approach to local development in the area with all sectors being actively involved in community benefit and poverty alleviation initiatives. / Thesis (M.A)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-162). / xi, 162 leaves, bound ill. (some col.), maps 29 cm

This thesis is an anthropological study of local understandings of economic development in a small regional town in far North Queensland, Australia. How do preferences regarding lifestyle and social wellbeing impact on those living in the community? The study takes a particular interest in the aspirations, values and choices of the residents and their desires for the future and the future of their town. Throughout this thesis I argue that social wellbeing and lifestyle are important factors in Cardwell residents' choices and feature predominantly in their approaches to economic development. I contextualise this study through a comparative analysis of the effects of economic development on the wellbeing and lifestyle of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the Cardwell region of north Australia. This comparison arises firstly from an anthropological interest in the circumstances of Australian Aboriginal people as a significant minority in regional towns. Explicit attention is directed toward the Aboriginal people of the Cardwell region as they constitute a socially and culturally distinct sector of the local population. Secondly, my study explores ways in which comparative work of this kind may be instructive on cultural issues relevant to economic development. This is a study of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, who live in similar circumstances, and who, I propose, regard factors other than economic development as important. It is argued that while the Cardwell region does not provide ample nor a variety of economic opportunities, outward migration remains undesirable to many residents.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984. / Also available in print.