In this qualitative research study, I examine eight elementary educators perspectives on teaching science to diverse students in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). A critical pedagogy and antiracism conceptual framework is used to examine elementary educators perspectives on the interrelationship between student sociocultural background and science education. Ontario Ministry of Education policies and curriculum documents and science educational research are used to interpret themes/codes from the official literature on student diversity and science education. Key findings of my research study show that: (1) elementary educators’ are ‘socio-culturally conscious’ of diverse students in the science classroom; (2) elementary educators require a more complex and broader understanding of official discourses on the sociocultural contexts of science education and implications for scientific literacy development; and (3) professional development (i.e., workshops and training) and teacher collaboration opportunities are identified as effective strategies for supporting elementary educator in diverse science classroom spaces.

The New Earnings Survey Panel Dataset is one of the largest datasets of its kind in the world. Its size and confidentiality restrictions present considerable difficulties for analysis using standard econometric packages. This thesis presents a number of methods for accessing the information held within the panel relatively efficiently, based upon the use of cross-product matrices and on data compression techniques. These methods allow, for the first time, the panel aspect of the dataset to be used in analysis. The techniques described here are then employed to produce an overview of changes in the UK labour market from 1975 to 1990 and detailed estimates of male and female earnings over a fourteen year period. These are the first panel estimates on the dataset, and they indicate the importance of allowing the parameters of any labour market model to vary over time. This is significant as panel estimators typically impose structural stability on the coefficients. A comparison of cross-section and panel estimates of earnings functions for males indicate that the allowance for individual heterogeneity also has a notable effect on the estimates produced, implying simple cross-sections may be significantly biased. Some preliminary estimates of the male-female wage gap indicate that variation over time has an important part to play in accounting for the differences in wages, and that "snapshot" studies may not capture dynamic changes in the labour market. Individual differences also playa significant role in the explanation of the wage gap.

I den här uppsatsen analyseras avkastningen på börsintroduktioner genomförda av Private Equity-firmor på den svenska marknaden under perioden 1993-2011. Studien undersöker huruvida börsintroduktioner genomförda av Private Equity genererar en abnormal avkastning relativt börsintroduktioner som genomförts av icke Private Equity, sammanlagt 97 börsintroduktioner. Båda urvalsgrupperna relateras gentemot jämförelseindex i form av kontrollfirmor på kort och lång sikt. Huruvida de två grupperna skiljer sig åt analyseras genom att beräkna respektive urvalsgrupps abnormala avkastning genom avkastningsmåtten Buy and Hold Abnormal Return (BHAR) och Cumulative Abnormal Return (CAR). Resultatet av dessa beräkningar analyseras sedan med hjälp av univariat analys och multipel regressionsanalys. I studien återfinns ingen skillnad mellan börsintroduktioner genomförda av Private Equity och börsintroduktioner genomförda av icke Private Equity på kort sikt. På lång sikt uppvisar börsintroduktioner genomförda av Private Equity högre avkastning än börsintroduktioner genomförda av icke Private Equity vilket är i linje med tidigare forskning. Båda urvalsgrupperna visar dock på lägre avkastning än dess kontrollfirmor på lång sikt.

Past research has found support for Equity Theory and Attachment Theory in predicting relationship satisfaction. According to Equity Theory, individuals feel satisfied when they are engaged in equitable relationships, where the ratio of benefits to costs is the same across partners. On the other hand, Attachment Theory postulates that a secure attachment style predicts high relationship satisfaction. Although an extensive number of studies have supported these predictions, the present study was the first to compare or integrate Equity Theory and Attachment Theory in predicting relationship satisfaction. A total of 384 introductory psychology students completed questionnaires. Simultaneous multiple regression indicated that partner’s input and the avoidance dimension of attachment were the two largest predictors of relationship satisfaction among overall sample. Hypotheses regarding the relation between equity level and attachment styles were only partially supported. In addition, three proposed models for predicting satisfaction were tested. The first model, based on Equity Theory, showed that underbenefiting exchange orientation, communal orientation, and closeness predicted the level of equity, which in turn led to relationship satisfaction. The second model, based on Attachment Theory, indicated that attachment styles affected the level of self-disclosure leading to intimacy and closeness, which predicted satisfaction. The third model integrated the two theories and showed that attachment styles predicted equity, which influenced the level of self-disclosure. Self-disclosure influenced intimacy and closeness, which led to relationship satisfaction. The integrated model best predicted relationship satisfaction among the three proposed models. Finally, sex differences and differences between friendships and dating relationships were also discussed.

Branding and consciously aiming for a certain brand identity has been practised for over four centuries. Irrespective of whether it is a business to consumer or business to business environment, marketing and branding are aimed at increasing volume, and therefore revenue, but is also about adding some additional measure of value to the products or services on offer. Brand management practices have existed for decades, but brand equity as a central business concept for many organizations has only really emerged in the past twenty years. Even though there is huge interest in branding with a definite predominance of branding in consumer or business to consumer (B2C) markets, literature indicates that branding, brand equity and brand value in business to business (B2B) environments are handled and experienced differently to the extent that it has received little attention from academics. Therefore the question is firstly to determine the differentiating factors/elements in B2C and B2B environments and; secondly what corresponding factors/elements are there in B2C and B2B environments. The practical application of branding in business to business environment is consequently investigated to assess to what extent businesses are able to create brand value and brand equity. Larger businesses increasingly exhibits trends in recognising the importance of branding and brand names, while small and medium-sized business fare poorest when it comes to harnessing the potential of branding. Yet in the face of a changing business landscape, brought about by the current economic recession sparked by the U.S. subprime crisis of 2007, these businesses are beginning to realise the importance of having a strong brand name in order to achieve not only a sustainable competitive advantage, but also in a quest to remain ahead of the competition. Even though the valuation of brand equity and brand value is discussed, the actual calculation of such valuations does not fall within the scope of this study. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Branding and consciously aiming for a certain brand identity has been practised for over four centuries. Irrespective of whether it is a business to consumer or business to business environment, marketing and branding are aimed at increasing volume, and therefore revenue, but is also about adding some additional measure of value to the products or services on offer. Brand management practices have existed for decades, but brand equity as a central business concept for many organizations has only really emerged in the past twenty years. Even though there is huge interest in branding with a definite predominance of branding in consumer or business to consumer (B2C) markets, literature indicates that branding, brand equity and brand value in business to business (B2B) environments are handled and experienced differently to the extent that it has received little attention from academics. Therefore the question is firstly to determine the differentiating factors/elements in B2C and B2B environments and; secondly what corresponding factors/elements are there in B2C and B2B environments. The practical application of branding in business to business environment is consequently investigated to assess to what extent businesses are able to create brand value and brand equity. Larger businesses increasingly exhibits trends in recognising the importance of branding and brand names, while small and medium-sized business fare poorest when it comes to harnessing the potential of branding. Yet in the face of a changing business landscape, brought about by the current economic recession sparked by the U.S. subprime crisis of 2007, these businesses are beginning to realise the importance of having a strong brand name in order to achieve not only a sustainable competitive advantage, but also in a quest to remain ahead of the competition. Even though the valuation of brand equity and brand value is discussed, the actual calculation of such valuations does not fall within the scope of this study. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Past research has found support for Equity Theory and Attachment Theory in predicting relationship satisfaction. According to Equity Theory, individuals feel satisfied when they are engaged in equitable relationships, where the ratio of benefits to costs is the same across partners. On the other hand, Attachment Theory postulates that a secure attachment style predicts high relationship satisfaction. Although an extensive number of studies have supported these predictions, the present study was the first to compare or integrate Equity Theory and Attachment Theory in predicting relationship satisfaction. A total of 384 introductory psychology students completed questionnaires. Simultaneous multiple regression indicated that partner’s input and the avoidance dimension of attachment were the two largest predictors of relationship satisfaction among overall sample. Hypotheses regarding the relation between equity level and attachment styles were only partially supported. In addition, three proposed models for predicting satisfaction were tested. The first model, based on Equity Theory, showed that underbenefiting exchange orientation, communal orientation, and closeness predicted the level of equity, which in turn led to relationship satisfaction. The second model, based on Attachment Theory, indicated that attachment styles affected the level of self-disclosure leading to intimacy and closeness, which predicted satisfaction. The third model integrated the two theories and showed that attachment styles predicted equity, which influenced the level of self-disclosure. Self-disclosure influenced intimacy and closeness, which led to relationship satisfaction. The integrated model best predicted relationship satisfaction among the three proposed models. Finally, sex differences and differences between friendships and dating relationships were also discussed.

There are growing calls for the involvement of multiple agencies to address health inequities. Many international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) working in health and development mention equity principles in their vision statements, missions, or strategic directions, and many authors view equity, including focusing on vulnerable populations, as an important role for these INGOs. However, there is a lack of in-depth empirical research on what influences INGOs’ implementation of equity principles in their work. The present study helps to fill this gap by using a case study to examine INGOs’ implementation of equity principles in their HIV/AIDS initiatives. In this case study, I focused on HIV/AIDS initiatives in Kenya to illustrate the nature of the implementation gap between the intent of INGOs to ensure equity in their work and actual practice, and to examine the various influences that affected the implementation of INGOs’ equity principles. I used HIV/AIDS as the exemplar because of the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS and the resulting large monetary investments made by donors to Southern countries and INGOs to address the disease. I conducted an in-depth case study of an INGO operating in Kenya. The research questions were: “What is the nature of the implementation gap between the intent of an INGO to ensure equity in its HIV/AIDS work and actual practice? What characterizes multi-level influences that affect an INGO’s implementation of equity principles in its HIV/AIDS work? How do multi-level influences affect an INGO’s implementation of equity principles in its HIV/AIDS work?” The case study design employed multiple methods including document reviews, interviews with staff of the INGO in Kenya, as well as its Northern INGO counterparts in Canada and the U.S., interviews with partners and clients of the INGO in Kenya, and participant observation with staff of the INGO in Kenya. I found that many players (e.g. Southern country government and the Northern donors) from different levels (e.g. in-country as well as Northern donor countries) shape INGOs’ implementation of equity principles in their HIV/AIDS work. Influences from donors include donor agendas and the focus of donor funding, as well as donor country policies. Influences from the Southern country government include government priorities and legislation. These influence INGOs’ implementation of equity principles in their HIV/AIDS work, and in some cases can outright contradict equity principles. However, since INGOs are often reliant on donor funding and need Southern governments’ permissions to work in-country, INGOs work within a system that is characterized by asymmetrical interdependence. They have to find a middle ground for implementing equity principles in their HIVAIDS work. Hence, these influences help give rise to an implementation gap between what INGOs intend to accomplish in implementing equity principles in HIV/AIDS work and actual practice. Implications for policy and practice include the need to: increase awareness of the roles various players have in implementing equity and the need for ongoing collaboration to achieve equity aims; continue work in capacity building on equity for INGO staff and its partners; and develop and refine tools for measuring and monitoring the implementation of equity. The present research clearly shows the significant role that INGOs play in equity, and the importance of understanding the multiple players and levels that influence INGOs’ implementation of equity principles in HIV/AIDS. The research can help INGOs, Southern country governments, and donors to better understand the system within which INGOs work in implementing equity principles, as multiple organizations continue to try to address health inequities around the globe.

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Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att belysa den konflikt som finns mellan riskkapitalbolagens vinstintresse och dess påverkan på kvalitet inom välfärden. Metod: En kvalitativ forskningsansats som baseras på data från fem intervjuer. Respondenterna representerar riskkapitalbolag på olika sätt och frågor om riskkapitalbolag inom välfärdsmarknaden besvaras. Intervjuerna kompletteras med sekundärdata som främst består av nyhetsartiklar som berör ämnet.     Teori: Beskriver riskkapitalmarknaden och välfärdsmarknadens funktion och hur den påverkas av den fria konkurrensutsättningen. Det beskrivs hur informationsasymmetrier kan vara ett problem inom välfärden då säljaren kan utnyttja köparens kunskapsunderläge. Det är därför viktigt att ledningen verkar i företagets intresse och inte för egen vinning. Tidigare forskning visar på att Riskkapitalbolagen är bra på att skapa värde i sina bolag genom ett aktivt ledarskap och genom att tillföra kompetens i sina bolag. Slutsats: Studien visar att riskkapitalbolagen effektiviserar och skapar värde i de bolag de förvärvar vilket leder till ökad kvalitet inom välfärdssektorn.