Thesis (doctoral)--Universität St. Gallen, 2003.

Thesis (doctoral)--Hochschule St. Gallen für Wirtschafts-, Rechts- und Sozialwissenschafte, 1995.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 37 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 32-33).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität St. Gallen, 1997.

Zugl.: Jena, Univ., Diss., 2009

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No description available.

This thesis examines how female athletes relate to and interpret their experiences of pain. Starting from the position that the meaning of pain is not given but is interpreted, this thesis takes as its central question: what compels athletes to interpret their pain in the ways that they do? Previous sociological research argues that athletes accept pain, risk, and injury because they have become normalized aspects of sport. In contrast, this thesis explores the specific individual ways athletes find traction with the normalized practice of tolerating pain in sport. Drawing on the in-depth unstructured and semi-structured interviews I conducted with female athletes, I primarily turn to Kleinian psychoanalytic thought to read how these athletes relate to their pain and the discourses on pain they discuss. In particular, I consider how they psychically manage the difficult aspects of their pain experiences in the process of narrating them. Taking the interview conversation as a site of the social workings of pain, I analyze how the listener has a bearing on how the interviewees interpret and express their pain. In focusing on pain (rather than pain, risk, and injury) this research endeavors to hold onto the complexity and diversity of pain, as well as the full complexity of the athlete as a subject who interprets her experiences both consciously and unconsciously. On the basis of this research I suggest that an ethical response to athletes pain may not always entail trying to prevent or reduce this pain. Instead, I argue that it may be more important to acknowledge what is difficult about pain, which varies for different subjects. For some the difficulty of pain is what it signifies, for others what is difficult is acknowledging ones own relation to pain or having ones relation to pain acknowledged by others, and for others still, the pain may be unavoidable, and so what is at stake is not whether pain is suffered but how it is negotiated. Finally, I suggest we need to develop how sociologists understand processes of normalization, to account for the complex ways athletes may wittingly engage in experiences of pain.

The Klein Berg River catchment is intensely cultivated with orchards, vineyards and wheat, while also ensuring a water supply to the main urban center, Tulbagh, and the two conservation areas (Waterval and Groot Winterhoek). The primary objective of this thesis is to determine channel change over a long and short time period, and to relate these changes to landuse change within the catchment. <br /> <br /> Assessing stability of a selected reach within the catchment was done on a short term basis with the use of erosion pins and cross<br /> profiles, while aerial photographs of over 55 years (acquired during 1942, 1967, 1987 and 1997) which were analysed using Geographic Informations Systems. Rainfall and discharge data, which were available for a period of 49-years were statistically analysed and used to determine trends. Vegetation characteristics were assessed by means of transects within the study reach. The results over the short time period (18 months) indicate noticeable channel change in the form of erosion and deposition within the channel. Bank material composition and riparian invasive alien vegetation play an important role in bank stability. Sand was the dominant grain size of the bank material, and fluvial entrainment occurred during periods of high flow. Woody alien trees prevent the growth of protective ground vegetation, and thus the soil is prone to erosion. Undercutting was also observed with the invasive woody trees, resulting in treefall. Debris dams were also common in the channel and depending on their position in the channel, either cause or prevent bank erosion. Landuse change over the 55-year period illustrated its effects on channel stability. Shrublands within the catchment has been replaced with invasive alien vegetation along the riparian zone, while shrublands along the Obiekwa Mountains, were replaced with cultivated lands. The patterns (shape and size) of lateral and point bars within the study area changed significantly within the 55-year period, which indicates a change in the discharge and sediment dynamics within the catchment. The change in sediment dynamics may be due to agricultural activities and urbanization. The increased trend in rainfall, especially during the winter season within the catchment is also an important catchment control. The study has revealed the integrated nature of variables within the catchment. It is thus recommended that a holistic and integrated approach at a catchment scale is required in the assessment of channel change of a river.

Zugl.: Linz, Universiẗat, Diss., 2007.