Administrators at the focus school had not determined if participation in a music program has influenced students' academic achievement, thereby ushering doubt about the utility of this program. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine the impact of the music program on students' English language arts (ELA) and math Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) scores. The theoretical foundation for this study was Miendlarzweska and Trost's model of musical training, which indicates the impact of musical training on academic, social, and cognitive outcomes and identifies factors that mediate that impact. Archival data were retrieved on 74 Grade 5-8 students who participated in the program during the 2012-2013 school year and who also participated during the 2011-2012 school year as Grade 4-7 students. Analysis of covariance indicated no significant effect on ELA or math MAP scores for music program participation. Implications for positive social change include providing initial research findings to the local site on the potential academic impact of this music program. Further research with recent data and larger sample sizes were recommended. Additional research at the local level may yield results that can help administrators better support higher levels of student success.

Primary informal caregivers are mainly responsible for the care of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Research has shown that the quality-of-life (QoL) experienced by unpaid caregivers of persons with AD is generally lower than the QoL of caregivers of persons who do not have AD. The literature does not report on any studies undertaken to examine whether caregivers' QoL is related to the level or quality of care that they provide to persons with AD. This thesis investigated the association between caregiver QoL and the level or quality of care provided. I conducted a systematic review and found no study designed specifically to examine this association. I included only one study in the systematic review because it contained variables that were relevant to caregiver QoL and the level or quality of care. However, this single included study did not specifically examine the association between QoL and level or quality of care. In addition, I could not find an instrument designed specifically to measure level or quality of care in AD. To answer this question, I contacted the authors of the single study included in the systematic review and obtained their dataset. Quantitative analysis of these data did not show a statistically significant association between caregiver well-being (surrogate for QoL) and level or quality of care. Further, I conducted a qualitative study of AD caregivers to obtain data on the components of a useful questionnaire for measuring level or quality of care. Caregivers suggested the development of a questionnaire that addresses the following areas: case management approach, increasing care demands due to declining status of the care recipient, social support, and the role of hired help. The thesis concludes with an integrative discussion of the aforementioned studies. I discuss important areas for future research, including the need for a longitudinal study. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

I denna kvantitativa studie så granskas relationen mellan rörligheten och våldsbrottsligheten på Hötorget, som är ett torg beläget i det centrala Stockholm. Genom att utföra univariata och bivariata analyser på sekundärdata från polisen och Storstockholms lokaltrafik, så undersöktes det under vilka tidpunkter på dygnet som det rör sig flest människor i området och det begås flest brott. Resultatet av dessa analyser var att det fanns ett tydligt samband mellan de två variablerna samt att vid variationer i en variabel så noterades variationer i den andra. När det rör sig färre människor i området så inträffar det fler våldsbrott och detta mönstret har noterats gälla både under vardagar och helger. / In this quantitative study, the relationship between the level of mobility and the amount of violent crimes in Hötorget is studied. Through univariate and bivariate analyses of secondary data, the times in which the crimes were committed along with the amount of people moving in the area were studied. It was revealed that there was indeed a correlation between the two variables and that changes in one variable also led to changes in the other. Lastly, the results showed that the amount of violent crimes reached its peak when there were few people moving in the neighborhood and this occurred both during the weekdays and the weekend.

In the preschool’s curriculum, it appears a collaboration between home and preschool is important for the child’s care as well as development and learning. From what we have seen, however, most of the research studies that refer to the relationship and communication between the parties are only based on the perspective of the preschool teachers. This quantitative study highlights partly the parents’ perspective on the importance of the relationship with preschool teachers in terms of the child’s best interests, partly the content of the communication regarding the child’s care as well as development and learning between the parties. The purpose of the study is therefore to test the study’s hypothesis to make parents attitudes visible in relation to the relationship with preschool teachers and the content of  communication in preschool. The study is based on statistical models of reliability, normal distributions and connections, which describe the data of the statistical analyses from SPSS and are at the same time our analytical instrument. With other words the statistical analyses form the basis of our study. To achieve the aim, we have chosen to perform a survey with statements based on the theory of attitudes, which include cognition, affect and behaviour. In total the survey generated 228r esponses, and the results show that it is equally important for the parents to communicate about the child’s care as well as development and learning. Furthermore, it is made visible that there is a non-significant connection between relationship and the content of communication.

Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka vilka historiska händelser och begrepp som är det samlande kittet för ungdomars svenska kulturella identitet idag. För att undersöka detta har vi genomfört en kvantitativ studie på Pauliskolan, en gymnasieskola i Malmö. Enkäten fokuserar på frågeställningar som berör den svenska efterkrigsidentiteten. Begrepp som vi har lyft fram är bl.a. den svenska neutraliteten och folkhemmet. Med hjälp av aktuell forskning kring identitet och svensk mentalitet har vi analyserat vårt material. Resultatet av studien visar att den svenska efterkrigsidentiteten fortfarande är starkt närvarande hos ungdomarna i vår undersökning. Detta kan förklaras framför allt genom kombinationen av narrativ identitet och kamouflerad försvenskning. / The purpose of this essay was to examine which historical events and concepts that are the unifying cement of the Swedish cultural identity for today’s youths. We have made a quantitative study on Pauliskolan, a high school in Malmoe. The poll focuses on questions about the Swedish post-war identity. Neutrality and the Swedish welfare state are examples of concepts that we have highlighted. We analyse our material by using current research about identity and Swedish mentality. The result of the study shows that the Swedish post-war identity is still strongly present among youths in our study. This can be explained through a combination of narrative identity and camouflaged swedification.

This study analyzes the global impact of democratic backsliding on gender equality through cross-section regression analysis. As a wave of democratic backsliding is spreading around the world, scholars have started to notice a backlash against gender equality as well. Since these changes seem to happen simultaneously, the question is whether they are interrelated. Very little research has been done within this area, and the impact of democratic backsliding on gender equality is still relatively unknown. This study contributes to the understanding through a quantitative study analyzing the effect of democratic backsliding on gender equality on a global scale. The analysis is carried out in two steps. First, the impact of democratic backsliding on women as a group is analyzed. Secondly, the impact of democratic backsliding on gender equality in terms of relative power distribution between men and women is analyzed to find out whether de-democratizing is affecting women particularly hard. The results show that democratic backsliding is affecting women negatively. However, no impact can be confirmed on gender equality in terms of power distribution between women and men, which suggests that recent developments are likely explained by regional and contextual factors rather than democratic backsliding.

No description available.

Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva relevansen av och eventuella samband mellan utvalda faktorers inverkan på trumpetelevers val av instrument och på deras fortsatta spelande i musik- och kulturskolor. Detta görs genom att beskriva både vad som påverkat eleverna i deras instrumentval och vad som varit viktigt för deras fortsatta spelande och intresse. Därefter undersöks om det finns några samband mellan dessa viktiga faktorer. Studien undersöker också föräldrars upplevda stöttning och om den har något samband med elevernas övningsfrekvens. Studien försöker dessutom också belysa hur elevernas intresse för sitt instrument ser ut genom att undersöka vissa faktorers relevans i relation till intresset, men också i jämförelse med andra instrument som brukar erbjudas på musik- och kulturskolor. Detta görs genom att både undersöka var intresset kommer ifrån samt hur de upplever att intressegraden ser ut idag jämfört med när de började spela. Tidigare forskning i området har ofta varit inriktad på lärarens perspektiv eller en allmän syn på undervisning. Avsikten med denna studie är dock att undersökningen görs ur elevernas synvinkel. Studien genomfördes utifrån ett positivistiskt kvantitativt förhållningssätt och urvalet består av trumpetelever samt deras föräldrar. Resultatet visar att både trumpetens egenskaper som ljud och klang samt läraren är viktiga faktorer för att elever ska börja spela. Musik- och kulturskolors instrumentprovardagar är också en bidragande faktor. Resultatet visar även att det inte finns några idoler som skapat intresset hos någon av eleverna, utan intresset har snarare kommit från lärare, familj och kompisar. Att ha provat spela trumpet tidigare är också en viktig faktor. En reflektion är att studien kan antyda på att föräldrar kanske underskattar sin egen inverkan på eleverna, både i valet av instrument, men även för det fortsatta intresset. / The purpose of this study is to describe the relevance of the influence and possible correlations of selected factors on trumpet students choice of instrument and their continuous playing at community music schools. This is done by describing both what influenced the students in their choice of instruments, and what was important for their continued interest. Thereafter, any possible correlations between these important factors are examined. The study also examines parents estimated support and whether it has any connection with the students' practice rates. The study also examines students interest in instruments at community music schools by examining the relevance of the impact of certain factors on the interest, but also in comparison with other musical instruments. This is pursued by both uncovering where the interest came from and how they perceive their own interest at present compared to when they started playing. Previous research in this field has often been focused on the teacher's perspective or on a general view of teaching. In contrast, this study should be able to show trumpet students point of view. The study was conducted on the basis of a positivist quantitative approach and the selection consists of trumpet students and their parents. Results show that both the characteristics of the trumpet, for example the sound colour, as well as the teacher, are important factors for students to start playing this instrument. Testing days on music schools are also a contributing factor. Results also provides fact to that there are no idols that created the interest of any of the students, instead the interest has mostly come from teachers, family and friends. Having tried to play the trumpet in the past is also an important factor. A reflection that this study may suggest is that parents may underestimate their own influence on students, both in the choice of instruments, but also for the continued interest.

As guerras civis começaram a ser estudadas quantitativamente há poucos anos, com número de publicações crescente na área. Os determinantes do início de guerra civil foram paulatinamente desvendados por meio de pesquisa empírica. Alguns resultados são de que elas ocorrem geralmente em países de baixa renda; em países que são dependentes da exportação de produtos naturais; que obtiveram sua independência há poucos anos; que tiveram conflitos recentes; cujas populações apresentam características etno-lingüísticas ou religiosas um pouco heterogêneas e polarizadas; que têm a presença de um regime ao mesmo tempo com peculiaridades autoritárias e democráticas e que apresenta instabilidade política; em países que se encontram em terrenos de difícil acesso, como áreas montanhosas ou florestas densas; dentre outros. Embora essas guerras ocorram geralmente em zonas rurais e as massas participantes são formadas particularmente por camponeses, em busca de melhores e mais dignas condições de vida, mesmo que conduzidos por líderes urbanos e instruídos, a academia não deu a devida atenção empírica a essas questões até o momento, apesar de tratá-las, em parte, numa literatura mais antiga e qualitativa. A proposta desta tese é abordar assuntos de natureza agrária analisados empiricamente, com o intuito de incluir os fatores agrários no conjunto dos determinantes de guerras civis com os quais a literatura já trabalha. Foram abordados temas relevantes relacionados às questões agrárias para verificar se são determinantes de guerra civil. Entre eles, o papel da demografia rural e da concentração de terra, o nível de produtividade no campo, além do tipo de camponês. Ao final, foram encontrados resultados estatísticos relevantes que endossam os fatores agrários como parte do composto que levaria ao início da guerra civil. Mesmo que a concentração de terra não tenha sido efetivamente comprovada como determinante para que guerras civis ocorram, os outros três fatores agrários confirmaram-se como determinantes desse evento, em conjunto com os outros fatores que a literatura aborda. Não se podem ignorar fatores agrários na ocorrência de guerras civis se estas eclodem em zonas rurais, têm os camponeses como os principais participantes nas massas rebeldes, e suas adesões à luta armada originam-se das questões agrárias não resolvidas. / The quantitative study of civil wars started few years ago, with an increasing number of publications in that field. The determinants of civil wars? onset were built gradually by empirical research. Some of their results show that they occur in: poor and developing states; dependent natural resources export countries; young states; countries with recent conflicts, states with a small heterogeneous population, polarized or dominant; places where the political regime is hybrid and politically unstable; terrain of difficult access, with lots of mountains or dense forests; etc. Despite these wars occur at large in rural regions where the peasants are the main actors looking for a better and dignified life, even if their leaders are urban and educated individuals, the scholars did not deserve the appropriated empirical and quantitative attention to agrarian issues, as they do with other mentioned civil war determinants. This thesis proposal approaches the agrarian themes quantitatively, with the aim to include the agrarian indicator within the civil wars? determinants. The relevant questions whose will be dealt are: which kind of peasants participate in civil wars? Which tasks have the concentration of land, the rural demography, and the level of agricultural productivity to the civil war onset? At the end, the statistical results are relevant and they have confirmed the agrarian indicator as part of the determinants of civil wars? onset. Even if the concentration of land did not achieve the expected outcome, mainly because of data problems than due to variables? relationship, the other determinants were pertinent and suitable.

The number of adults aged 65 years and over has been rising quickly, as has the rate of new onset sexually transmitted diseases within this population. Discussions of sexual health between physicians and older adults are currently lacking in frequency and effectiveness. Using the foundation of stereotype embodiment theory, the purpose of this study was to identify the factors that predict frequency of discussing sexual health with older adult patients. A comparative sample of geriatric physicians and family practitioners completed 2 researcher-developed questions and the Sexual Health Care Scale-Attitude tool that assessed their stereotype beliefs toward discussing sexual health with older adults using the 4 subscales--personal, patient, environmental, and colleague--and the frequency with which they discussed sexual health with their older adult patients. It was hypothesized that non-ageist attitudes would increase the frequency of discussions, and increase the personal factors, such as comfort level, of having such discussions. Multiple regression analysis and the chi-square test were used in data analysis. Frequency of sexual health discussions with older adult patients was dependent upon the physician type, age and gender, and how well the physician believed he or she had been educated to discuss sexual health with older adults. Comparatively, the geriatric physicians had more frequent discussions of sexual health with older adults than the family practitioners. The implications for social change include identifying the need for more specialized physician training in discussing sexual health with older adults to improve overall physical and emotional well-being of older adults and the study's recommendations for future research.