This paper examines the use of symbolism when companies communicate through advertisement. This is done by using a symbolic interactionist and dramaturgical approach to the use of symbols in advertisements. The field of previous research has also been studied and taken into consideration when analyzing the advertisements. The setup of this study is a unique combination between the field of social psychology and marketing. The base perspective of Blumers symbolic interactionism and Goffmans dramaturgy is used when examining how symbolism are used by companies in advertisements. This is where the study’s uniqueness comes from. Although previous research has touched the topic, none have looked at symbolism in marketing this way. The aim of this study is to contribute with research that brings knowledge to the field of both social psychology and marketing. The analysis of the advertisements shows that all the companies use symbolism in different ways to communicate their intended message. A consistent way that symbolism is used through the different advertisements is by connecting the symbolism of everyday situations to the company or their products. Through symbolic messaging the advertisements proved to also attempt to imbue the products with a symbolic meaning. Additional ways that symbolism is used in advertising are discussed thoroughly in the paper.

This exploratory study utilized qualitative methods to approach regional language abilities of local respondents and how it affects their regional identity. The theoretical framework of this study explored some of the tenets of symbolic interaction emphasizing on identity theory and how the flexible aspect of face-to-face interaction can define the self and someone's regional identity as it relates to their regional language use. Data for this study were collected in a small Occitan village in Southern France. In particular, the study explored the link between an individual residential setting, his/her age and his/her ability to speak the regional language. The results indicate that the ability to speak the specific regional or even sub regional language does not greatly affect an individual's regional identity, thus potentially contributing to the continuing decline of that language in the region. Furthermore, that future studies are merited to explore whether these results are specific or if they can more broadly be applied to other Occitan regions or elsewhere where regional languages are spoken.

This research explored psychological, social, and relational aspects of caregiving. It examined documented resolution of ethical dilemmas precipitated by veterans' medical crises and involved formal caregivers, informal caregivers, and veteran patients. The unit of analysis was caregiving relationships. The main research question asked, how does case documentation and documented processes of resolving ethical dilemmas in institutional healthcare for veterans reflect relational ethics? Relational ethics was defined as fairness of interpersonal give and take and included efforts to elicit, understand, and honor veteran's values and care preferences. The caregiving context was a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The research population was 25 male veterans whose cases required intervention by the VAMC ethics committee. The research was conducted in three phases using grounded theory methodology. The research purpose, guided by symbolic interaction theory, was to develop substantive theory in relational ethics. Study analyses used Atlas.ti qualitative software. Main study one, Veteran-Formal Caregiver Relations, focused on relational processes internal to the VAMC. It explored how members of professional healthcare disciplines documented ethical caregiving concerns amongst themselves and in interactions with veteran patients. Agency emerged as the core category. Agency meant that veteran patients could make choices and act on those choices in ways that impacted their care. When veterans' agency was compromised, formal caregivers' roles became more salient. The substantive theory was the dynamic process of clarifying agency. Main study two, Formal-Informal Caregiver Relations, focused on interactions between VAMC staff and veterans' significant others. It explored medical center staff communications with informal caregivers regarding veterans' health problems. Documented interactions confirmed the impact of relational ethics. Agendas and advocacy emerged as key categories that determined and respected veterans' relational autonomy. Relational autonomy validated other ethical concerns and resource demands, considered social context, and included obligations as well as entitlements. The substantive theory was the agenda to advocate for relational autonomy. Substantive theories from the two main studies were integrated. Categorical dimensions were combined into substantive theory; that doing the right thing in institutional caregiving for veterans was the dynamic process of clarifying agency with the agenda to advocate for relational autonomy. / Ph. D.

In recent years corporate organizations have implemented casual wear as an alternative to traditional dress codes to encourage comfort, relaxation,productivity, and manager/employee interactions. The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences related to attitudes towards casual work attire and productivity, to examine perceptions of the effects of casual attire on the office atmosphere, and to determine what constitutes appropriate casual dress in corporate offices. The study involved a comparative analysis of males and females to determine the differences between perceptions and attitudes towards corporate dressing down. The sample was comprised of 66 employees of 3 major companies in the southeast. Respondents completed the Manager /Employee Questionnaire on Corporate Dressing Down which contained 38 Likert-type questions and 2 questions requiring the respondents to rank apparel ensembles. The questionnaire was pilot tested for content validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using factor analysis, frequencies, t-tests, and MANOVAs. T -tests revealed no significant differences between male and female attitudes towards dressing down, attitudes towards productivity, perceptions of the atmosphere, and perceptions of manager and employee interactions. Examination of frequencies revealed that males and females differed in their selection of appropriate male and female casual wear for the workplace. Multiple analysis of variance indicated no significant difference between males and female perceptions of casual and traditional work attire. / Master of Science

A large percentage of Americans own pets which may impact their health. This study examines pet ownership’s effect on well being in older adults looking at race/ethnicity. A sample of 6,565 older adults (>60) was selected from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey. Pet owners comprised 28.3% of the sample. The theories of symbolic interaction and social integration were used to examine pet ownership’s effect on physical components of well-being. The descriptive results showed statistically significant differences in age, education, income, and marital status between pet owners and non-pet owners. Pet owners were younger, more educate, higher income and married. Similar results were found for Caucasians, African Americans and Mexican Americans. Logistic regression for the entire sample revealed pet owners were more likely to have a positive self perception of health, normal blood pressure, improved function, less chronic conditions, improved function and more falls. Multiple regression revealed pet owners had more hospital stays, but fewer physician visits and nursing home stays than non-pet owners. When examined by race/ethnicity differences were found between pet owners and non-pet owners that differed from the general sample results. This research revealed that pets overall positively impact their owners’ health but it appears to differ based on race/ethnicity. Further research is needed on pet ownership’s effect on older adults specifically in regards to race.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-04T22:02:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta pesquisa propõe como objeto de investigação as interações de sociabilidade entre participantes de um contexto de exposição de artes visuais do tipo Bienal, tendo como campo empírico a 6ª Bienal de Artes Visuais do Mercosul, evento ocorrido em Porto Alegre-RS, de 1º de setembro a 18 de novembro de 2007. Amparado nas premissas conceituais da teoria do interacionismo simbólico, o estudo busca discutir como se estruturam alguns aspectos relativos à sociabilidade, às práticas de apropriação, às representações e aos usos sociais da arte contemporânea num contexto expositivo de arte visuais do tipo Bienal. / This research proposes an investigation of sociability interactions among participants, who are situated in a context of a Biennial art exhibition type. The empirical field is focused in the 6th Mercosul Biennial, which happened in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), from September 1st to November 18th, 2007. Supported by the premises of the symbolic interaction theory, the study intends to discuss the structure of certain aspects related to sociability, to art appropriation practices, to representations and to social uses of the contemporary art in a context of the Biennial art exhibition type.

This study examines identity presentations on the online social networking site, Facebook.com. The two-phase research design includes a period of participant observation of a sample of 346 college students and recent graduates followed by an interview period with a sample subset of 48 interviewees. The study analyzes key performance components on the site using a symbolic interaction perspective, to determine common characteristics of Facebook profiles, importance of performance components, and categories of identity performance. Identity performance components are broken into two general categories, static and dynamic. Dynamic components, those that are updated frequently and drive much of the activity online, are far more important in terms of identity performance. Dynamic components on Facebook found to be important in this study are status updates, use of bumper stickers and pieces of flair, giving gifts, and photos. Analysis of these components supports the symbolic interaction literature in general and the works of George H. Mead specifically. The Facebook news feed allows Facebookers to continually observe identity performances of others as well as to give and receive feedback on performances. This continual flow of information allows for the development of a generalized other, used as the basis for anticipating reactions from others to potential activity. Based on these anticipations, in an effort to reduce misinterpretations, Facebookers develop exaggerated performances that serve to distinguish in-groups from out-groups.

Since the early part of the 1800s many aspects of music education have remained "very traditional" with little changes in underpinning rationales (Jorgensen, 2003, p. 3). Due to this lack of change, a divide exists "between musical ideology and education practice" (p. 4). The primary purpose of this thesis is to suggest that changing the music education profession begins with reconceptualizing music education. The secondary purpose is to propose one solution, the Timeline Integration Model. Reconceptualization is the process of challenging the atheoretical and ahistorical perspectives of traditional curricula (Pinar, 1975). Rethinking curriculum research starts at the intersections of social structure, history, and biography (Popkewitz, 1988). This philosophical qualitative research thesis presents an analysis of the social structure of School of Music programs. It uses the symbolic interaction theory to investigate how language and music-for-music's-sake ideology influence the music education profession. It briefly examines the history of music education and provides a review of literature of symbolic interaction theory and reconceptualization in relation to music education. The symbolic interaction theory is also applied to an autobiography to further investigate the social structure of School of Music programs and the music education profession. The autobiography demonstrates how social structure, history, and biography are interconnected. This thesis introduces the Timeline Integration Model. The Timeline Integration Model is an interdisciplinary approach developed by the author that uses socio-historical contexts to rethink musical learning. The Timeline Integration Model also provides teachers with tools to design meaningful and integrative lessons in K-12 general music classrooms.

ABSTRACT Notions of quality of life dictate philosophies and policies for services for people with developmental disabilities. There is an abundance of research on quality of life, much of which has influenced the significant amount of study of quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. According to specialist developmental disability nurses, however, this research has little meaning for one group of people with developmental disabilities with whom they work - people with severe multiple impairments. Nevertheless, judgements and decisions about the lives of this group continue to be driven by the idea of quality of life. While the literature review found that researchers are urged to seek the perceptions of people regarding their own quality of life by asking them, some authors have noted the difficulty in pursuing such a method with people, such as people with severe multiple impairments, who are unable to communicate in the usual ways. Given, then, that it is difficult to directly determine the views of people with severe multiple impairments, this study sought the perceptions of nurses about the quality of life of the people with whom they work. In order to discover and conceptualise nurses' views, a symbolic interaction perspective was chosen to guide this study and data were analysed using the grounded theory approach. The study was conducted in two stages. Stage One consisted of semi-structured indepth interviews with expert nurses to explore their perceptions of quality of life for the people with whom they worked. A significant finding in these interviews was that perceptions of quality of life are mediated by interaction. Consequently, Stage Two involved a participant observation study in which the interactions of nurses and people with severe multiple impairments were examined. Specialist developmental disability nurses have a unique view of quality of life for people with severe multiple impairments. They refer to it as 'just little things', a phrase which masks complex nursing knowledge and skills, and which can be described by four interrelated categories which emerged from the data: humans being, supporting, becoming intimate, and situated belonging. As nurses become more intimate with individuals, they perceive that people with severe multiple impairments are humans being as they wish, and that quality resides in supporting their everyday lives in a context of situated belonging. This thesis represents a new conceptualisation of quality of life for people with severe multiple impairments, a conceptualisation which may have significance for other groups and, indeed, for the whole quality of life enterprise. This conceptualisation draws on knowledge not usually related to quality of life, that is, knowledge of the body, of the emotions, of identity and of humanness. Such findings demonstrate the power of an interpretive approach in explicating the meanings nurses have regarding quality of life. Further, these findings have implications for how the question of quality of life is approached, for how different ways of thinking about people impact on quality of life, and for the importance of the life in quality of life.

<p>In the Swedish elderly-care sector the institutions are of different character and the kind of care and food-supply they offer vary in scope and intensity. The aim of this study was to analyse how food and meals were handled and provided to the elderly living within those situations and in this context, how food was expressed as a substance or/and in symbols. This study focus on the social organisation that embraces the diet of the elderly and shapes the provisions of their meals, on the norms, values and behaviours of the different social identities in the organisation. The empirical work included in-depth interviews and participant observations in four different residential care homes, including various hierarchical levels, i.e. politicians and different personnel, in the organisation of food-supply to the elderly. In each care home different types of care and food-supply were studied, i.e. elderly having their meals in 24hour care, partime day care and those who ate in the restaurants. Generally, provision of meals was routine and meals were planned, prepared and served with little or no attention to what substanse and symbol it brought to the elderly. The elderly had limited possibilities to influence their own meals and those with the largest need of care, being the most fragile and sick had the least influence. The views of politicians and different personnel indicated that they considered themself powerless, which resulted in a "freedom of responsibility". It was obvious that there existed a clear discrepancy between how the informants considered the provision of food and meals should be organised and carried out, in comparison to reality. The current unsatisfactory provision of meals to the elderly is attributed to the marginalisation of specifically three areas: the symbolic value of food, the life and needs of the elderly and the traditional knowledge and experiences of women in their role as housewife and carer of the family.</p>