No description available.

No description available.

This thesis investigates how A-level students (aged 17-26) in and around Kampala, Uganda, manage uncertainties in their present lives and futures. There are large discrepancies between international and national discourses on education, the students’ ambitious hopes and dreams, and the realities they witness. The research’s main source of data are 63 semi-structured interviews with high school students of various socio-economic backgrounds in four different schools. The thesis provides an analysis of the tactical agency the students display while negotiating with discourses, networks and steep competition. The main argument of the thesis is that uncertainty can be a productive force, and tactical agency necessary to navigate an African urban space at present.

The dissertation presents evidence on the measurement properties of self-report items in contemporary organizational contexts (Podsakoff & Organ, 1986). Operationally, the dissertation adopts a construct representation approach to construct validity, defined by the response processes engaged for measurement performance in trait assessment (AERA, 2014; Embretson, 1983). For example, self-report measures are known to be affected by a variety of variables, such as semantic and referent features (Cermac & Craik, 1979; Kelly, 1955) and design factors that impact cognitive context (Stone, et al, 2000; The Science of Self-Report). In turn, the response processes impacts the external correlations (Embretson, 2007). To the extent that semantic-referent features and design factors are construct-irrelevant, reduced external correlations can be expected. This dissertation presents evidence from a qualitative review of self-report future time perspective (FTP) instruments across organizational and retirement contexts. A quantitative review compares external correlates of the two instruments. A retrospective-observational study benchmarks the psychometric properties of Carstensen's self-report instrument using modern latent-variable modeling (item-response theory [IRT]). Structural equation modeling (SEM) is further used to test for moderating effects of subjective life expectancy (SLE) on latent predictors of FTP and retirement plans. Evidence from a '3 x 2' mixed-subjects experimental design is also presented indicating the effects of subjective life expectancy (SLE) on measurement error in personality factors, FTP, and retirement plans. Discussion centers on advancing measurement paradigms in psychological and education research, as well as -more generally- adopting an integrated perspective of construct validity for advancing and evaluating substantive research.

The last few decades have seen a growing body of research on narcissism, however few studies have examined the relationship between subclinical narcissism and future orientation. The proposed study will examine how grandiose and vulnerable types of narcissism influence future orientation, and whether anxiety, depression, impulsivity and sense of control play mediating roles in this relationship. It is also hypothesized that anxiety will play a mediating role between future orientation and vulnerable narcissism, but not between grandiose narcissism and future orientation. Finally, it is hypothesized that grandiose and vulnerable narcissism will be correlated within individuals. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) will be used to test the hypotheses, and the a priori model is expected to have a good fit to the data. This study will further our understanding about how narcissists view their futures, and whether this is influenced by mediating factors.

Background: There is a large worldwide market for assault rifles. Many armed forces need new weapons when their old cold war equipment starts to break down. Throughout the world today, the development of new variants of assault rifles continues and the defence industries are doing business across the globe. Customers demand low prices and high quality. Objective: To investigate assault rifles that are currently being used around the world, how they evolved and which factors are important in the development of a future assault rifle, and to compare two widely used assault rifles to explore the differences and determine which one is better. Methods: A qualitative study of literature combined with a multi-target analysis of two assault rifles from a given scenario in an urban area. Results: Small arms have been the soldier's main weaponry for hundreds of years, and will continue to be so for many years to come. Development of the future assault rifle will be based on such factors as shooting distance, size of magazine and weight. The AK5C rifle was ranked number one ahead of the G36E rifle in the comparison as it was smaller and therefore easier to use in confined spaces. Conclusion: Many current rifles are similar in performance and size. Development of the future rifle will not only depend on the rifle itself, but also on the accessories, including ammunition, and the possibilities for customization. / <p>Erasmus</p>

Bagamoyo area in Tanzania is a place full of potential for development and big projects are about to start. A few kilometres outside of Bagamoyo town, the small place Makurunge is situated. Since Makurunge is located close to a big sugar cane project that is about to start and it is included in a development plan of Bagamoyo township, it will possibly be facing many changes in a near future. This thesis aims to explore the local livelihoods in Makurunge with focus on the local population’s perceptions concerning their present lives, visions and constraints. These thoughts are discussed together with the possible future impacts from the development projects in the area. To explore the objectives with this thesis a qualitative field study in Tanzania has been done. Semi-structured interviews, informal talks and focus group discussions have been done with local people in Makurunge. Interviews with people working at the district office, for the government and some NGOs in the area have been held. The results show that the livelihood situation in Makurunge is difficult and people want to improve their lives. Many people are small-scale farmers or charcoal producers, dependent of natural resources and their physical strength. Some also have small businesses and the economical situation is very hard for everyone. Bad roads, low education and lack of job opportunities together with limited access to modern tools, have been identified as obstacles for them to pursue good livelihoods. The presumed changes from the developments in the area could possibly contribute to a more active community with more money flow and an improved infrastructure. Together with empowerment and greater knowledge the people could hopefully get a more sustainable livelihood situation in the future.

Starting a thesis with intention and ambitious to invent a future mobility for Southeast Asia region, one of the fastest growing region in the world. I was so passionate about what is the future mobility that very compatible to South-East Asia consumer that face a hot weather and humidity climate in whole year. Recently, the car that we produce whether in local manufacturing or imported car are not very compatible for the current environment since the climate is change dramatically in kind of temperature which massive impact in material usage in the vehicle and our daily life. By this platform, my main priority is to find a best solution by doing a research and problem´s analysis about the real situation and for a long period of time. Then, I was began the project by summarize the concept based on the research analysis. Design research, brand and background analysis, ideation sketches, studying an overall form by using clay and 3D digital modelling and also advanced visualization were the main methods that implemented during this project. The result is GEMILANG Concept, designed a future vehicle which have semi-autonomous drive mode for ASEAN ambition and actual need throughout in developing countries. The concept is considered between a climate change in this region and proposes a highly efficient in how to implement the best use of natural resources that able to stand in extreme climate particularly in this region and innovative solution between tradition, need and technology.

Managing anthropogenic emissions in urban areas is a major challenge in sustainable environmental development for cities, and future changes and increasing urbanisation may increase this challenge. Systems perspectives have become increasingly important in helping urban managers understand how different changes may alter future emissions and whether current management strategies can efficiently manage these emissions. This thesis provides some systems perspectives that have been lacking in previous studies on modelling and managing future anthropogenic emissions in urban areas. The city of Stockholm, Sweden, was selected as the study site and studies about nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon were chosen, given world-wide urban eutrophication and global concerns about climate change. A substance flow analysis (SFA) structured model, comprising a source model coupled with a watershed model in an SFA structure, was developed to investigate future nutrient loading scenarios under various urban changes in small urban lake catchments. The results demonstrated that climate change potentially posed a greater threat to future nutrient loads to a selected lake catchment in Stockholm than the other scenarios examined. Another SFA-based study on future phosphorus flows through the city of Stockholm indicated that the best management option may depend on the perspective applied when comparing future scenarios of phosphorus flows and that both upstream and downstream measures need to be considered in managing urban phosphorus flows. An evaluation approach for examining current management plans and low-carbon city initiatives using the Driving forces-Pressure-States-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, was formulated. With such an evaluation approach, investigation of how well selected plans cover different aspects of the DPSIR framework and whether root causes and systematic measures are highlighted is possible. The results revealed that the current low-carbon city initiative in Stockholm falls within pressure-based, driver-orientated plans and that technical, institutional and cognitional measures are generally well covered. / <p>QC 20160510</p>

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which fifth-grade teachers, teachers in special education, and child psychiatrists hold similar views regarding the seriousness of commonly observed student behaviors. In addition, the views of these three groups are compared to research regarding which behaviors in children are predictive of future delinquency. The Wickman Scale, consisting of fifty commonly observed children's behaviors, and a fifteen-pair Semantic Differential Scale, designed for use in this study, were administered to a group of fifth-grade teachers, a group of special education teachers, and a group of child psychiatrists.