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No. of bitstreams: 1 raniro_c_dr_arafcl.pdf: 3860705 bytes, checksum: e0ecf0eef9d25a07041eedee8afd4456 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-28 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Acreditando que as crianças são ativas em seus contextos e capazes de revelar as realidades que as cercam, considerando que o conceito de infância vem se constituindo historicamente a partir das estruturas sociais, culturais, políticas e econômicas que envolvem as crianças e ainda nas relações que elas estabelecem com os outros, reconhecendo a importância dos contextos que direta ou indiretamente atingem as crianças e dado que a Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional nº 9.394/96 vem sofrendo alterações que regem a escolaridade das crianças pequenas, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi identificar, compreender e analisar a partir de concepções de crianças e suas professoras, como a escolarização nos dois últimos anos da Educação Infantil e nos dois primeiros anos do Ensino Fundamental vem se constituindo e as influenciando em um Centro Educacional Unificado (CEU) da cidade de São Paulo/SP. Neste cenário, a pesquisa de natureza qualitativa coletou dados no segundo semestre de 2014, a partir de cinco sessões de grupo focal com três grupos distintos: um grupo com 10 crianças matriculadas nos dois últimos anos da Educação Infantil, um grupo com 8 crianças matriculadas nos dois primeiros anos do Ensino Fundamental e um grupo formado por 4 professoras das crianças participantes. Os dados coletados foram categorizados e analisados à luz da perspectiva bioecológica que se constitui no modelo Processo-PessoaContexto-Tempo e em estudos da Sociologia da Infância, que consideram a infância como uma categoria permanente na estrutura social e concebem as crianças como atores sociais plenos e produtores de cultura capazes de interpretarem e revelarem seus mundos; além de outros autores que abordam temáticas que se aproximam a da que esta tese se propôs. Os resultados indicaram que a infraestrutura do CEU se diferencia por oferecer em um mesmo ambiente equipamentos de educação, lazer, cultura e esporte com acesso a toda comunidade, tendo as crianças mais possibilidade de vivenciarem ali práticas que em outras situações não teriam. As crianças pertencem a camadas populares, com predomínio de famílias estendidas e pais separados. Suas concepções revelaram que elas assumem os papeis de alunos e crianças, ainda que tenham definido particularidades relacionadas à ocupação ou local de inserção. Elas consideraram que se diferenciam dos adultos em algumas funções - ambos produtivos em seus contextos. Pareceram bem relacionadas entre si, gostam das professoras e estas buscam constituir vínculos com os alunos – estreitando as relações à medida que isso é possível dentro da rotina escolar. As crianças ainda pareceram gostar e estarem adaptadas à escola, atribuindo valor a ela e ao processo de escolarização e não apresentaram grandes perturbações ao que vem sendo oferecido. As professoras apresentaram experiências diversas, disseram gostar do que fazem apontando considerações relacionadas à profissão e concebem o professor como um aprendiz em constante interação com seus alunos. Elas não se opuseram as alterações legais mas indicaram adequações ao sistema escolar. A Educação Infantil revelou uma proposta de trabalho mais flexível do que o Ensino Fundamental que trabalha com foco para alfabetização. Há mais descontinuidades do que continuidades entre uma etapa de ensino e outra – porém alguns aspectos comuns a ambas etapas pareceram atenuar rupturas bruscas. A comunicação com as famílias das crianças se dá principalmente via agenda e presencialmente em situações pontuais. As professoras revelaram que as famílias respondem melhor ao Ensino Fundamental em função das exigências que esta etapa de ensino apresenta em relação à anterior e acreditam que a relação família-escola poderia ser mais qualificada. Os resultados deste estudo contribuirão para a Educação Escolar ao compor conhecimentos a outras pesquisas de natureza semelhante podendo superar conclusões prévias a elas ou serem superados por estudos futuros consolidando a teoria que vai sendo produzida na área. Palavras – chave: Pesquisa com crianças. Pesquisa com professoras. Educação Infantil: préescola. Ensino Fundamental: anos iniciais. Grupo focal. / Believing that children are active in their context and able to reveal the realities that surround them, considering that the concept of childhood has constituted historically from social structures, cultural, political and economic involving children and also in the relationships that they establish with others, recognizing the importance of the contexts directly or indirectly affecting children and given that the Law of Guidelines and Bases of National Education No. 9394/96 has undergone changes that guide the education of young children, the aim of this study was to identify, understand and analyze from children's views and their teachers how the education in the last two years of pre-school and the first two years of elementary school has been constituting and influencing in a Unified Educational Center (UEC) in São Paulo/SP. In this scenario, the qualitative survey collected data in the second semester of 2014, from five focus group sessions with three distinct groups: one group with 10 children enrolled in the last two years of pre-school, a group of 8 children enrolled in first two years of elementary school and a group of 4 teachers of participating children. The collected data were categorized and analyzed according to the bioecological perspective that constitutes the model Process-Person-Context-Time and Sociological Studies of Child, which considers childhood as a permanent category in the social structure and conceive children as full social actors and producers of culture able to interpret and reveal their worlds; beyound authors that address issues that are close to the proposed by this thesis. The results proposes that the infrastructure of the UEC is different to offer in the same environment education equipment, leisure, culture and sports with access to the entire community, having the children more possibility to experience in that place practices that in other situations they would not have. Children belong to the urban poor, with a predominance of extended families structure and single parents. Their view reveal that they assume the roles of students and children, even though they define characteristics related to occupation or the place of insertion. They consider that differ from adults in some functions - both productive in their contexts. They seemed to be well related to each other, like the teachers whose search for establish links with the students - strengthening relationships as this is possible within the school routine. The children still seemed to be adapted to the school, assigning value to it and the process of schooling and had no major disruption to what has been offered. The teachers had different experiences, said that they like what they do pointing some considerations related to the profession and conceive the teacher as an apprentice in constant interaction with their students. They did not oppose the legal changes but indicated adjustments to the school system. The pre-school revealed a more flexible work proposal than the elementary school that works with focus on literacy. There are more discontinuities than continuities between a stage of education and the other – however some aspects common to both steps seem to mitigate sudden breaks. Communication between the families of children is done mainly via agenda and in personal in specific situations. The teachers reveal that families respond better to primary education in accordance with the requirements that this stage has based on the previous stage and believe that the family-school relationship could be more qualified. The results of this study will contribute to the school education once will assemble knowledge to other same nature which can overcome previous conclusions to them or be overcome by future studies consolidating the theory that is being produced in the area. / CNPq: 148783/2012-0

This study attempts to answer three questions regarding how health warnings that adorn Swedish cigarette packages affects the consumer on a grammatical and a semiotic level. To investigate this, the health warnings has been analysed in order to identify the grammatical and semiotic components impact on the coniditons for the messages to influence the recipicent. By examining two different designs of health warnings from the tobacco directive from 2014 and 2016, and to take part in a focus groups opinions, this study revealed different factors that enable or limit the consumer to perceive and embrace that which is conveyed in these specific health warnings.

As escolas públicas valorizam o planejamento escolar como uma das preocupações administrativas e pedagógicas a fim de que sejam criadas condições para a efetiva realização do que foi estabelecido. Entretanto, as escolas públicas municipais não contam com planos administrativos elaborados. A presente pesquisa tem o objetivo de identificar a visão do diretor escolar sobre a gestão estratégica com balanced scorecard (BSC) e mapa estratégico no setor público. Para atingir o objetivo visado, a pesquisa teve como primeiro passo, o repasse de dados e informações do GREFIC da FEARP-USP para seleção das escolas públicas no município de Ribeirão Preto/SP e, a partir disso, uma abordagem qualitativa, utilizando o estudo de caso como procedimento técnico nas escolas públicas levantadas. A pesquisa caracterizou-se como aplicada e descritiva. As técnicas de coleta de dados foram a observação, o questionário, a entrevista, o diário de campo e o grupo focal. Foram entrevistadas oito diretoras escolares. O grupo focal foi aplicado em três diretoras escolares concomitantemente a uma capacitação sobre o tema \"gestão estratégica com BSC no setor público\". Foi feita a observação não participante em duas escolas. Na análise de dados, foi utilizada a análise de conteúdo. Como resultado, constatou-se que a visão da gestão estratégica, para o diretor escolar, foi de pensar em metas e objetivos para melhoria da vida escolar do aluno. Já a perspectiva do diretor escolar sobre a aplicação da gestão estratégica com BSC e mapa estratégico no setor público foi a de que as ferramentas aparecem como viáveis dentro do setor público e das escolas públicas, porém, ambos precisam ser adaptados para melhor utilização. Foi elaborado um esboço do BSC e mapa estratégico no setor público, especificamente da escola pública. Conclui-se que as escolas necessitam de um plano administrativo específico para uma gestão mais eficiente e participativa. O BSC e o mapa estratégico são viáveis para o setor público e para as escolas públicas municipais, desde que sejam adaptados. Este projeto contribuiu para a pesquisa do BSC no setor público, bem como para a melhoria da educação pública brasileira. / Public schools value school planning as one of the administrative and pedagogical concerns to create conditions for the effective realization of what has been established. We argue, however, municipal public schools do not have elaborate administrative plans. The aim of this research is to identify the principals vision of strategic management with balanced scorecard (BSC) and strategic map in the public sector. To reach the proposed objective, the research had as a first step the transfer of data and information from the GREFIC of FEARP-USP for the selection of public schools in Ribeirão Preto/SP city and from there a qualitative approach, with the use of the case study as technical procedure in public schools raised. The research was characterized as applied and descriptive. The data collection techniques were observation, the questionnaire, the interview, the field diary and the focus group. Eight school principals were interviewed. The focus group was applied to three principals\' concomitant with a training about strategic management with BSC in the public sector. Non-participant observation was done in two schools. Data analysis was performed using content analysis. The results indicate that the vision of strategic management for the principal was to think about goals and objectives to improve the student\'s school life. The principal\'s view on the application of strategic management with BSC and strategic map in the public sector was that tools appear as viable within the public sector and public schools, but both need to be adapted for better use. An outline of the BSC and strategic map was made in the public sector, specifically the public school. We conclude that schools need a specific administrative plan for a more efficient and participatory management. The BSC and the strategic map are feasible for the public sector and municipal public schools, provided they are adapted. This project contributed to the BSC\'s research in the public sector, as well as the improvement of Brazilian public education.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-19T11:50:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 fonseca2012.pdf: 1503515 bytes, checksum: 598b272f4aa2f20b7b0a36372f9a404f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-28 / This work discusses usability features that can be applied on interfaces for virtual libraries, to meet differences in interaction and information needs of different users. It presents the emergence and popularization of the Internet and presents it as a determining factor for the development of thematic virtual libraries. It presents the history of libraries and proposes subsidies for the creation of thematic virtual libraries issues aimed to meet the needs of users. It introduces the concept of information and health information. It discusses the interdisciplinary relations of Information Science with Cognitive Science. It demonstrates, through a focus group study on information needs of potential users of a thematic virtual library. It talks about usability in virtual libraries and usability features as parameters for meeting the needs of users. We conclude that the heuristic evaluation and usability principles raised in the literature and the current technical standards on the subject present subsidies for improvement of thematic virtual libraries and we consider the views gathered in focus groups are important contributions to the improvement of processes in a thematic virtual library in health. / Aborda o levantamento de características de usabilidade que possam ser aplicadas em interfaces de bibliotecas virtuais, para atender diferenças de interação e necessidades informacionais de usuários distintos. Demonstra o surgimento e a popularização da Internet e o apresenta como fator determinante para o desenvolvimento das bibliotecas virtuais. Discorre sobre a história das bibliotecas e propõe subsídios para a criação de bibliotecas virtuais temáticas voltadas para atender as necessidades dos usuários. Apresenta o conceito de informação e informação em saúde. Aborda as relações interdisciplinares da Ciência da Informação com as Ciências Cognitivas. Demonstra, através de grupo focal, estudo sobre necessidades informacionais de usuários potenciais de biblioteca virtual temática em saúde. Discorre a respeito de usabilidade em bibliotecas virtuais e apresenta a usabilidade como parâmetro para atendimento às necessidades dos usuários. Conclui que a avaliação heurística e os preceitos de usabilidade levantados na literatura e as normas técnicas vigentes sobre o tema apresentam subsídios para aprimoramento de bibliotecas virtuais temáticas e considera que as opiniões colhidas no grupo focal são contribuições importantes para a melhoria de processos de uma biblioteca virtual temática em saúde

The goals of this thesis are: to find out what role do information and communication technologies (ICT) play in learning and students' preparation for school and in what conditions and means are students using ICT for school preparation in non-school settings; and to show the current state of digital technology usage by students for school purposes, but also to hint at the potential challenges in the implementation and usage of information and communication technologies. The theoretical part consists of three aspects; it introduces the terms preparation for school and learning using information and communication technologies; analyzes the current relation of curricular documents to using ICT in schools, and summarizes results from thematically-related research. The research part of this thesis presents the results of the quantitative and qualitative research inquiry into selected high-school students and their teachers/educators. The goal of this inquiry was to determine what methods and in what conditions are students using ICT in their school preparation.

Au Québec, chaque commission scolaire développe sa propre politique d’évaluation de l’«école à la maison» ou AEF (apprentissage en famille). La diversité de ces modalités génère des interactions très diverses entre les parents et les commissions scolaires, laissant certains acteurs insatisfaits de part et d’autre et pouvant compromettre le droit de l’enfant à l’éducation. Notre analyse des situations d’encadrement et de suivi de l’AEF dans le monde révèle plusieurs possibilités de combinaison entre les pouvoirs décisionnels des autorités scolaires, des parents et d’autres acteurs. Parmi ces autres acteurs, il appert que le groupe de soutien, de par sa position intermédiaire et collective, pourrait jouer un rôle régulateur complémentaire et mieux accepté par les autorités scolaires et les parents. Les groupes de soutien d’AEF sont des regroupements locaux et auto-organisés de familles, proposant des activités sociales et d’entraide. Selon la théorie de la gouvernance réflexive, le groupe de soutien peut être considéré comme un lieu d’apprentissage collectif permettant l’émergence de normes sociales régulant les pratiques éducatives des parents. Cette étude vise à décrire les normes sociales établies au sein de groupes de soutien d’AEF québécois et les processus de production normative associés. Les normes sociales collectives implicites et explicites de deux groupes de soutien québécois enregistrés comme organismes sans but lucratif ont été documentées et décrites au moyen d'entrevues de groupe et de documents officiels de chacun de ces organismes. Une analyse de contenu a fait ressortir que les normes sociales collectives explicites formalisent le fonctionnement démocratique des groupes de soutien (modalités de participation des membres), les valeurs prônées (respect d’autrui, ouverture vers les autres) et leurs objectifs sociaux (soutien entre les membres, partage de ressources). Les normes sociales collectives implicites sont les suivantes : 1. Les enfants et les parents-éducateurs doivent socialiser, 2. Le parent-éducateur doit s'engager dans l'éducation des enfants et 3. L'enseignement et l’apprentissage doivent être de qualité et significatifs. Ces normes sociales collectives tendent à rejoindre les normes institutionnelles de l’éducation québécoise, soit la triple mission de l’école québécoise, « instruire, socialiser, qualifier », mais en les dépassant notamment en ce qui a trait à l’importance de l’engagement parental, à l’individualisation de l’enseignement dispensé et à la diversité des possibilités de socialisation. Celles-ci se rapprochent alors davantage des normes juridiques établies par la Loi sur l’instruction publique pour l’AEF: l’enfant doit 1. vivre une expérience éducative et 2. recevoir un enseignement qui soient équivalents à ce qui est vécu et enseigné à l’école, sans nécessairement reproduire la forme scolaire à la maison. Plusieurs processus de construction normative ont été identifiés : par co-construction, par ennoncé et adhésion, par quête partagée et par contact avec des acteurs exterieurs au mouvement d’AEF. Ceci décrit la possibilité d’un apprentissage social et d’une forme d’engagement citoyen des parents-éducateurs à travers ces groupes. Les normes sociales collectives décrites par cette étude et leurs modes de production suggèrent que le groupe de soutien pourrait être un acteur à exploiter davantage dans la gouvernance de l’AEF. / In Quebec, each school board makes its own homeschooling evaluation policy. Those various terms and conditions lead up to a lot of different relationships between homeschooling parents and school agents, leaving some of them unsatisfied, and sometimes, compromising the children’s right to education. Our analysis of homeschooling evaluation policies all around the world shows that parents’ autority, school board’s autority and the autority of a third party could be combined in various ways. Among those third parties, homeschooling support groups, thanks to their collective and intermediary position, could play a complementary role in the homeschooling regulation, with a better acceptance from parents and school agents. Homeschooling support groups are local self-organized groups which gather families for social activities and mutual aid. According to the reflexive governance theory, support groups could be seen as a collective learning place allowing social norms to emerge and regulate parental practices. This study aims to describe social norms currently established in Quebec-based homeschooling support groups and the associated production processes. Explicit and implicit collective social norms of two Quebec-based homeschooling support groups, registered as non-profit organizations, were described using focus groups and offical groups’ documents. Content analysis has showed that collective social explicit norms formalize the democratic mechanism of each group (term and condition of members’ participation), claimed values (respect to and openness toward others) and social goals (mutual support and ressource sharing). Collective social implicit norms were: 1. Children and parents must socialize, 2. Parents must be commited in the child’s education and 3. Teaching and learning must be of quality and meaningfull. Collective social norms seem to be close to institutional norms from Quebec educational school policy, “to provide instruction, to socialize and to provide qualifications”, but they exceed them especialy in matters of parental commitment, which is important, various type of socialization possibilities and individualized instruction. Thus, those norms are closer to the legal framework for homeschooling, in the Public Instruction Act, requiring that a child should 1. receive schooling and 2. benefit from an educational experience which are equivalent to what is provided at school, without necessarily replicating the school form at home. Several norm production processes have been described : co-construction, statement and adherence, shared quest and contact with non-homeschooling persons. It suggests that, through those groups, social learning and citizen commitment of parents are possible. Collective social norms and associated production processes described in this study suggest that homeschooling governance could benefit from using homeschooling support groups as third party in the regulation.

Syftet med vår studie var att ur ett genusperspektiv undersöka ungdomars konstruktioner och föreställningar kring gärningspersoner och offer vid sexualbrott. Vi gjorde tre fokusgruppsintervjuer med totalt 18 ungdomar i gymnasieåldern. Ungdomarna benämnde genomgående gärningspersoner som män och hade generellt svårt att se kvinnor som gärningspersoner vid sexualbrott. Manliga gärningspersoner konstruerades främst som alfahannar som begår sexualbrott för att få utlopp för sin sexualitet medan kvinnliga gärningspersoner främst konstruerades som sjuka, konstiga och utan självrespekt. Ungdomarna hade lättare att se kvinnor som offer vid sexualbrott, samtidigt framhölls flertalet omständigheter som påverkar kvinnors offerstatus negativt. Att som kvinna utsättas för sexualbrott ansågs resultera i psykiska men och en kränkt sexualitet. Män beskrevs alltid vara okej och tycktes inte påverkas av utsatthet för sexuella övergrepp. Ungdomarna menade att kvinnor som berättar om övergrepp riskerar att betraktas som slampor och förstörda medan män som berättar om övergrepp riskerar att betraktas som homosexuella och omanliga. / Deep down, maybe she wanted it An essay based on qualitative focus group interviews with adolescents in a Swedish high school, regarding their thoughts on and constructions of perpetrators and victims of sexual offenses. The aim of our study was to examine adolescents perceptions and constructions of perpetrators and victims of sexual offenses from a gender perspective. We conducted three focus group interviews with a total of 18 adolescents between the age of 16 and 19. The adolescents consistently referred to perpetrators as men and generally had difficulties seeing women as perpetrators of sexual offenses. Male offenders were primarily depicted as alpha males who commit sexual offenses in order to get a sexual release, while female offenders were primarily depicted as sick, strange and without self-respect. The adolescents more easily perceived women as victims of sexual offenses, still, some circumstances seemed to affect the possibility for a woman to be viewed as an ideal victim, in a negative way. Being a woman subjected to a sexual offense was thought to result in mental issues and breached sexuality, while men were thought not to be as affected by sexual abuse. The adolescents believed that women who reported abuse risked being looked at as sluts and as tainted while men who reported abuse where at risk of being considered as unmanly and as homosexuals.

The pass rate in mathematics is unsatisfactory both in South Africa and internationally. Historically disadvantaged students tend to underachieve even more due to a variety of hampering factors. An investigation into the reasons for underachievement in mathematics prompted the researcher to launch a study through which she wanted to remediate some of these identified problems. The research project took place at Technikon Northern Gauteng (TNG), and comprised of the implementation of tutorial sessions. The study was conducted by means of a quasi-experimental design using action research. The primary goal of this dissertation is to report on the process, outcomes and recommendations in order to facilitate improvement in practice. The researcher's overarching hypothesis was that tutorials in mathematics would have a positive effect on the achievement of first year mathematics students at TNG. The following questions were focussed on during the course of the study: ¨ What is the impact of mathematics tutorials on problem-solving abilities and critical thinking? ¨ What is the impact of tutorials on the self-image of the students, with reference to mathematics and mathematics achievement? ¨ What is the impact of tutorials on mathematics achievement? ¨ Which role could tutors play in the creation of role models? ¨ Do students have the need to communicate mathematically in their mother tongue? ¨ How successfully could portfolio assessment be implemented? Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered through a standardised questionnaire, the SOM, a specifically designed, structured questionnaire, observations, focus group interviews, reflective diaries and student records. Some of the findings include: ¨ Historically disadvantaged students § often possess a unsatisfactory study orientation; § apply inefficient time management; § suffer from mathematics anxiety; § do not show a correlation in terms of grade 12 symbols and success at tertiary level § often experience milieu deficit; § do not achieve according to their expectations; and § do not have a learning culture (COLT) at their disposal. ¨ Students generally perceived the tutorials as positive and contributing towards success. The students § did not often speak in their mother tongues; § appreciated the relaxed work tempo; and § utilise the support system of the smaller group. ¨ During the focus group interviews students recognised the following success factors: § regular class attendance; § completion of homework § planning and revision according to a study timetable. ¨ Students shared some personal experiences with the researcher, namely that § the tutorials boosted their self-image and make them willing to ask questions during lectures; § some tutors acted as positive role models; and § the consistent involvement of the lecturer motivated students. The statistical procedures revealed that the students in the experimental group did not perform significantly better than those in the control group, yet that does not diminish the value of the study in any way. The researcher recommends further research in the tertiary mathematics environment in order to empower students. / Dissertation (MEd (Curriculum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

This study examines the impact of rapid and multi-faceted change (both domestically and inter-nationally over the past four decades) on the Dutch Reformed Church. 2 February 1990 is taken as a water shed date in the history of South-Africa: a speech in parliament of former president FW de Klerk put South-Africa on a course of fundamental change in all spheres of society. The research problem deals with loss the Afrikaans community experiences as a result of societal change. The result of change and loss is long-lasting, collective grief. Grief is defined as the nor-mal, spontaneous reaction to change and loss. Unresolved grief and nostalgia saps a lot of energy and tends to turn a congregation’s attention to itself, thereby contradicting the sound reformed ecclesiology. There is no appropriate practical theological theory to help congregations address unresolved grief. Change, loss and grief are made focus points for theological reflection and empirical study. The guiding hypothesis states that efforts to build up the local church are more likely to succeed, once the “black holes” of unaddressed grief have been dealt with by a collective and on-going process of mourning. Mourning is defined as an intentional and courageous process of letting go of different losses. It is hard work, but the result of deliberate mourning is growth – and eventually a more appropriate, new identity. Unresolved grief causes congregations to get stuck in survival mode, in stead of reaching out to the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Mourning is an antidote (Hamman 2005:35). The research model of G Heitink (1993) is employed to generate fresh practical theological thinking on the research problem: that congregations fail to live according to their missional identity. The hermeneutical cycle explores the “new” practical theology in the framework of a post-Einstein epistemology, as well as the theory of building up the local church in the framework of an ecosystemic meta-theory. The hermeneutical cycle is concluded with the study of contemporary theories of loss, grief and mourning. The empirical cycle reports the results of a qualitative empirical study in three local congregations of the Northern Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church. A rich description is given of 31 respondents’ experience of loss and grief in the new South-Africa. It is established that unresolved grief indeed impacts negatively on efforts to build up the local church. The strategic cycle searches for practical theological wisdom and for a theory that can guide congregations to more productive responses to change and loss. The research boils down to twelve strategic suggestions for local congregations on how to make collective mourning a normal and on-going part of their ministry. The study concludes with the hypothesis that practical theology can serve the church by developing a theory that integrates intentional mourning and grief work as a necessary and normal aspect of ministry. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Föreliggande arbete är en kvalitativ studie som behandlar valet att bli förälder. Det som undersöks är svenska unga vuxnas samtal kring när tiden är rätt för att bli förälder, livet som förälder kontra livet utan barn, det ideala livet, det goda föräldraskapet och en bra barndom. Studien är ett bidrag till den västerländska debatten om sjunkande födelsetal och uppskjutet barnafödande. De empiriska analyserna i arbetet är baserade på fokusgrupper med sammanlagt 35 individer mellan 24 och 39 år. Deltagarna har olika bakgrunder sett till utbildning, arbete och bostadsort. 15 var förstagångsföräldrar eller väntade sitt första barn. Resterande 20 hade inte barn. När är tiden rätt för barn? Varför har medelåldern för förstagångsföräldrar ökat? Vilka föreställningar finns kring livet som förälder jämfört med livet utan barn? Dessa var de övergripande frågorna som diskuterades i grupperna. Användandet av fokusgrupper och den diskursiva analysen visade sig vara fruktbara i studiet av ideal och föreställningar kring föräldraskap och övergången till föräldraskap. Resultatet av studien belyser komplexiteten kring valet att bli eller att vänta med att bli förälder; det visar på hur människors liv och förståelse av sig själva påverkas av många motstridiga föreställningar och ideal. Föräldraskap, familj, släktskap, vänskap, kärlek, ålder, biologi, och den oberoende individen är några av de fenomen som framstår som diskurser i fokusgruppsdeltagarnas diskussioner kring tiden för föräldraskap. Denna studie visar hur olika individer förhåller sig till olika diskurser och subjektspositioner, och hur olika individer på olika sätt löser dilemman som motstridiga ideal resulterar i. I avhandlingen undersöks och belyses diskursiva, kulturella strukturer och individers aktiva positionerande gentemot dessa. / The present thesis is a qualitative study of reproductive decision-making. It explores ways in which Swedish young adults talk about the timing of parenthood, the ideal life, good parenthood and the auspicious childhood. The work contributes to the debate on why fertility rates are declining and why the transition to parenthood is being postponed in the contemporary Western world. The empirical analysis is based on focus group data including in total 35 participants, between 24 and 39 years of age, with varying educational, occupational, and geographical backgrounds. The participants were new first-time parents, a few who were expecting their first child and some who were childless. The broad guiding questions of the focus group discussions were the timing of parenthood, the general postponement of parenthood, and the childless life contra life as a parent. The focus group method proved to be very useful in exploring ideas and ideals related to the timing of parenthood, as did the discourse analytical approach that was applied. The study illuminates the complexity of reproductive decision-making; it is an exploration of a range of notions and discourses that impact on people’s lives and ways of understanding the world, such as discourses on kin, family, friendship, the romantic relationship, parenthood, age, biology, and the independent, individualized individual. It is also a study of individual positioning towards different, often contradictory ideals, and individual strategies when trying to solve the pertinent dilemmas caused by contrasting notions. Thus, the study is an exploration of general, cultural discursive structures as well as of the different ways in which the subject actively draws upon them.