This thesis provides an anti-colonial analysis of how Indigenous knowledges have been studied and conceptualized through ethnographic research in the field of development studies. In this analysis I apply meta-ethnography within an anti-colonial discursive framework, a combination that I argue has great potential in the study of power relations in qualitative knowledge production. Firstly, this approach allows me to provide a synthesis of purposively selected ethnographies from the development studies literature; secondly, it requires that I refer to Indigenous scholars’ critical writings in the education literature to analyze development studies ethnographers’ approaches to Indigenous knowledges. The results of this analysis provide a starting point for questioning epistemological racism and colonial power relations at play in knowledge production on Indigenous knowledges in the field of development studies, with important implications for how we teach, study, and conduct research in development.

This thesis provides an anti-colonial analysis of how Indigenous knowledges have been studied and conceptualized through ethnographic research in the field of development studies. In this analysis I apply meta-ethnography within an anti-colonial discursive framework, a combination that I argue has great potential in the study of power relations in qualitative knowledge production. Firstly, this approach allows me to provide a synthesis of purposively selected ethnographies from the development studies literature; secondly, it requires that I refer to Indigenous scholars’ critical writings in the education literature to analyze development studies ethnographers’ approaches to Indigenous knowledges. The results of this analysis provide a starting point for questioning epistemological racism and colonial power relations at play in knowledge production on Indigenous knowledges in the field of development studies, with important implications for how we teach, study, and conduct research in development.

The purpose of this study is to gain a holistic understanding of the Asian gang phenomenon through the application of a meta-synthesis, which is seldom utilized within the criminal justice and criminology discipline. Noblit and Hare’s (1988) seven step guidelines for synthesizing qualitative research informed this methodology. Through this process, 15 studies were selected for synthesis. The synthesis of these studies not only identified prevalent themes across the sample, but also provided the basis for creating overarching metaphors that captured the collective experience of Asian gang members. Through the interpretive ordering of these metaphors, a line of synthesis argument was developed in which three major inferences about the Asian gang experience were made. First, regardless of ethnic and geographic differences, the experiences of Asian gangs and their members are similar. Second, although extant literature has applied different theories to explain gang membership for individual ethnic gangs (e.g. Chinese, Vietnamese), this synthesis revealed that the dominant theory for explaining the onset and persistence of Asian gangs is Vigil’s (1988) multiple marginality theory. Finally, in comparison to the broader literature, Asian gangs are more similar than they are different to non-Asian gangs because of their overlap in values.

This PhD by published work critically synthesises eight papers using a meta-ethnographic methodology in the field of community sport development. In particular, it provides an overarching critical analysis of mass participation sport development policy and practice in England using research with national governing bodies, county sport partnerships, local government and school-based sport development officers. Latterly, the synthesis centres upon the communities themselves that have been the focus of policy in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics with its associated participation legacy. Research was undertaken using a predominantly qualitative research methodology, with varied methods including 58 in-depth interviews, 10 focus groups, five video diaries, observational and field note accounts. The meta-ethnographical methodology developed by Noblitt and Hare (1988) was utilised to provide the framework and conceptual approach to developing a critical meta-synthesis across the eight individual papers. The PhD offers a rare analytical insight across organisational boundaries, industry sub-fields (teaching, local government, County Sport Partnerships, National Governing Bodies) and professional-community binary oppositions. Findings from this study highlight key drivers limiting the mass participation agenda. These themes include the increased diversity and fragility of the delivery platform provision under austerity, challenge the industry assumptions of pathways of progression and question existing behaviour change assumptions. Further future explanatory themes that emerged from the meta-ethnography included divergence and widening in sport development delivery (“the haves and have not’s”), sport development workforce challenges in an era of modernisation (emerging skills, knowledge and expectations in the field) and finally what was termed in this study ‘the policy rhetoric gap’.

There is no consensus of the concept sexual health in the context of being HIV-positive women. Research in the area tends to focus in different measurable parts of sexual health for HIV-positive women. A meta-synthesis on that research issue can develop a deeper understanding and knowledge of how HIV-positive women in qualitative studies describe and experience sexual health. The purpose with this study is to analyze and synthesize the results about how HIV-positive women describe and experience sexual health. The meta-synthesis follows Noblit and Hare´s method of meta-ethnography and additional use of Walsh and Downe´s checklist to appraise qualitative articles. The result shows that HIV involves changes in the body, sexuality and sexual activity and relationships. The changes lead to feelings of responsibility, fear and hopelessness. Combinations of these feelings lead to actions of avoidance of risks that result in feelings of loss. As a nurse you are expected to promote sexual health as a part of holistic care and with this new knowledge health care workers can help these women to better health and feeling of well-being. / Program: Fristående kurs

In this dissertation I used the anthropological and sociocultural perspectives to examine the culture of school science and science communities. I conducted three independent studies. The first study is a meta-ethnography of three well-known case studies published in the literature. I analyzed these studies in order to identify the distinct characteristics of scientific communities and portray a picture of how science is practiced. The meta-ethnographic analysis reveals aspects of scientific practice that are insightful for the science educators and curriculum developers because these aspects are often neglected in school science even though they explain how science is done and accomplished in science communities. In the second study, I conducted an ethnographic research to explore the distinct characteristics of a scientific-engineering community. How the community members worked in collaboration as they conducted their research, how they negotiated and mutually agreed upon as they interacted and communicated with one and another and what they have learned through the process of these interactions were the units of the analyses. Findings reveal that the lead scientists' different working styles in the research center orchestrated learning and research. Ongoing communication and interdisciplinarity initiated collaborative partnerships with other communities and allowed the research groups to generate a shared repertoire to pursue the novelty in the process of knowledge generation. Mentorship was a catalyst for enculturation process, and it was on the trajectory of becoming an engineering university faculty. In the third study, I observed a science classroom over a period of time to explore the socio-cultural aspects of learning. I examined the social practices and the participants' interactions that establish and maintain participation, community, and meaning. In my analysis I investigated the extent to which students' participation and interaction formed a community of practice and fostered learning science. The three studies highlight the distinct characteristics of school science communities and science communities that are of importance for the efforts to better design learning environments. Translating the everyday activities of scientists and engineering researchers into school science communities can help enhance students' science learning experiences and cultivate a more informed understanding of science and engineering.

Yes / To increase understanding of grandparental grief following the death of a grandchild from a life-limiting condition. Meta-ethnography. Academic Search Complete CINHAL, Embase, psycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science, supplemented by manual search strategies (in 2015, updated 2018). Studies were appraised and synthesized using the principles of meta-ethnography. Three superordinate themes were identified: 'influence of the relationship with their grandchild', 'influence of the relationship with the grandchild's family' and 'pain'. The simultaneous, multigenerational position of grandparents meant individuals experience emotional pain from witnessing the experience of family members. Many factors that contribute to the bereavement experience of grandparents are outside of their control. The roles, positions, and support needs of grandparents need to be acknowledged to better meet their needs as parents, grandparents, and individuals who have experienced a child death. / Hospice UK, RCN Foundation

Bakground:  When someone is suffering from incurable disease, life changes both for the person, but also for the relatives. More and more get cared for in the home and relatives becomes more involved in care today. Knowledge of the relatives' experiences of palliative care at home is therefore of importance to the district nurse in the home healthcare system to get further aspects of how care can be improved, hence the present thesis work is important. Aims: The purpose of this meta-synthesis was to get a better understanding of the family caregiver’s experiences of palliative care at home, by integrating qualitative international research.  Method: The method used was Noblit and Hares meta-ethnography and 16 qualitative articles were analyzed and synthesized.  Resultat: The family caregiver’s experiences of palliative care at home represented three themes: living with the dying, caring for the dying and interacting with the professional care. The result shows that the experience of caring for a dying relative at home can feel rewarding but at the same time be very stressful both mentally and physically. Caring for a dying relative at home changes life and relationships. The family caregivers’ role as caregiver was a major responsibility and limited their own lives. This responsibility required help from professional caregivers through support and information.  Conclusions: The present master thesis provides a better understanding of the needs of family caregivers, which may facilitate for healthcare professionals in the encounter with these persons and may also motivate to apply a family-focused approach. / Bakgrund: När någon drabbas av obotlig sjukdom förändras livet både för den drabbade, men också för de anhöriga. Allt fler vårdas i hemmet och anhöriga blir mer involverade i vården idag. Kunskap om anhörigas upplevelser av palliativ vård i hemmet är därför av vikt för att distriktssköterskan i hemsjukvården ska få ytterligare aspekter på hur vården kan förbättras, därmed är föreliggande examensarbete angeläget.  Syfte: Syftet med denna metasyntes var att genom att integrera kvalitativ internationell forskning skapa förståelse av anhörigvårdares upplevelser av palliativ vård i hemmet.  Metod: Metoden som tillämpades var Noblit och Hares metaetnografi där 16 kvalitativa artiklar analyserades och syntetiserades.  Resultat: Anhörigvårdares upplevelser av palliativ vård i hemmet kunde beskrivas i följande tre teman: att leva med den döende, att vårda den döende samt att samverka med den professionella vården. Resultatet visar att upplevelsen av att vårda en döende närstående i hemmet kan kännas givande men samtidigt vara mycket påfrestande både psykiskt och fysiskt. Att vårda en döende närstående i hemmet förändrar livet och relationerna. Vårdarrollen innebar ett stort ansvar som begränsade anhörigvårdarnas egna liv. Ett ansvar som krävde stöttning från hälso- och sjukvård i form av stöd och information.    Slutsats: Föreliggande examensarbete ger en ökad förståelse för anhörigvårdares behov vilket kan underlätta för sjukvårdspersonal som ska möta dem och kan även motivera till att tillämpa ett familjefokuserat förhållningssätt

The lived experiences of previously infertile mothers in the early postpartum period have not been previously studied. The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of previously infertile mothers during their early postpartum period. Colaizzi’s (1978) approach to descriptive phenomenological inquiry was used to analyze the interview data obtained from twelve first-time, previously infertile mothers. These new mothers, aged 27 to 43 years, were interviewed twice. The first interview focused on eliciting descriptions of new motherhood in the early postpartum period after overcoming infertility. The second interview validated the interpretations from the first interview and provided additional information and reflection. Two main themes emerged that described the early postpartum experience of first-time, previously infertile mothers: 1) Lingering Identity as Infertile; and 2) Gratitude for the Gift of Motherhood. Participants reported that their lingering identity as infertile and immense gratitude for the gift of motherhood propelled them to establish unrealistic expectations to be the perfect mother. When they were unable to live up to being the perfect mother, they censored their feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and shame. Findings from this study sensitize healthcare providers to the difficulties faced by previously infertile women during their transition to motherhood.

Bakgrund: Bipolär sjukdom orsakar ett stor lidande för individen med återkommande återfall i depression eller hypomani/mani. Omvårdnad som stödjer individen till att aktivt bedriva egenvård kan stärka individen till att bli mer självständig och aktiv i behandlingen av bipolär sjukdom. Det saknas en systematisk översikt över kvalitativa studier om individers erfarenheter av att genomföra egenvård vid bipolär sjukdom. Syfte: Belysa individers erfarenheter av att genomföra egenvård relaterat till bipolär sjukdom. Metod: Den kvalitativa metoden metaetnografi användes vid studien. Sökning i databaser resulterade i 22 kvalitativa artiklar. Syntetisering av artiklarna resulterade i tre metaforer med en modell över hur metaforerna är sammanlänkade. Resultat: Studiens resultat består av metaforerna "Egenvård som balansakt", "Sjukvårdens erbjudande av en balanspinne" samt "Risker för fall av linan". Slutsats: Resultatets tre metaforer skapar tillsammans en metaforisk modell som visar att egenvård vid bipolär sjukdom kan ses som att individen behöver "balansera på en lina" för att inte "falla ner från linan" i depression eller mani. Den metaforiska modellen åskådliggör att egenvård vid bipolär sjukdom är ett komplext fenomen som sträcker sig längre än utförandet av egenvård. Specialistsjuksköterskan inom psykiatrin bör aktivt uppmuntra individer med bipolär sjukdom till att aktivt bedriva egenvård för att stärka deras självständighet och inge en ökad möjlighet att erhålla en förbättrad hälsa och välbefinnande. Studiens resultat stärks av att det går teoretisk anknytas till Orems egenvårdsteori. / Background: Bipolar disorder causes a great deal of suffering for the individual with recurrent depression or hypomania/mania. Nursing that supports the individual to actively pursue selfcare can strengthen the individual to become more independent and active in the treatment of bipolar disorder. There is no systematic review of qualitative studies on individuals' experiences of performing self-care in bipolar disorder Aim: Highlight individuals' experiences of conducting self-care related to bipolar disorder. Method: The qualitative method of meta-ethnography was used in the study. Searching databases resulted in 22 qualitative articles. Synthesizing the articles resulted in three metaphors with a model of how the metaphors are interconnected Results: The study's results consist of the metaphors "Self-care as a balancing act", "Health care's offering of a balancing stick" and "Risks for falls of the line". Conclusion: The three metaphors of the result together create a metaphorical model that shows that self-care in bipolar disorder can be seen as the individual having to "balance on a line" so as not to "fall off the line" in depression or mania. The metaphorical model illustrates that self-care in bipolar disorder is a complex phenomenon that goes beyond self-care. The specialist nurse in psychiatry should actively encourage individuals with bipolar disorder to actively pursue self-care to strengthen their independence and to provide an increased opportunity to grant improved health and well-being. The study's results are strengthened by the fact that it is theoretically linked to Orem's self-care theory.