Consumer foreign online purchasing (CFOP) in this thesis refers to the exchange between consumers and foreign online retailers. Despite empirical facts showing increasing interest of consumers to purchase from foreign online retailers, researchers have only paid modest interest to this new marketing field. In response to recent researchers’ calls for further studies in this new field, this thesis aims to add knowledge on why some consumers purchase from foreign online retailers and others do not. CFOP is associated with uncertainty, so it is important to study what affects uncertainty and how consumers deals with uncertainty. Contrary to marketing-management theory studies, this thesis employs behavior theory and adopts views from relationship and network perspectives. The theoretical framework in this effort is business relationship concepts (commitment, trust, and uncertainty) and provides deeper understanding of how consumers behave in foreign online purchasing contexts. The empirical studies in this thesis employ multiple methods, including, in-depth, focus groups, narrative interviews, and two quantitative studies. This thesis discusses previous studies on marketing management theory, business-to-business and business-to-consumer relationships. Based on the framework, this thesis contributes with deeper insight for understanding consumers’ foreign online purchasing behavior. The empirical and theoretical contributions of this thesis not only advance understanding of this market arena, but also may attract the interest of other researcher. In addition to the four papers with different theoretical contributions, the thesis contains a summary to properly position its theoretical background. Since the papers have a variety of emphases and stress different uses of analytical tools, uncertainty, commitment, and trust, the summary connects the four papers into a theoretical framework. The theoretical frame explicitly states the findings in the papers. It explains factors that affect uncertainty in CFOP and also how consumers deal with uncertainty in order to establish and develop relationships through the pre-purchase, purchase, and post-purchase phases.

This thesis explores the psychosocial dynamics of sexual risk-taking in men who have sex with men, with particular focus on the dilemmas that gay men face in establishing trust in themselves and reasonable trust and intimacy with their sexual partners. As well, the practical function of this study is to analyze past and current social marketing efforts aimed at reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to offer suggestions for how to approach a strategy to reduce HIV incidence in gay men and at the same time bolster efforts to assist men who have sex with men (MSM) in adhering to safer sex guidelines. In part, this thesis uses a sample of participants of the Vanguard Project cohort (St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia), in order to explore the social meanings attributed by MSM towards sex, risk, intimacy, and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. Through the use of first-person narratives, this thesis examines the concordance or discordance of MSM beliefs and behaviour with long-standing theoretical models of harm reduction methods concerning sexual risk. The study reveals that, in great measure, due to past life course events, many gay men suffer from a lack of trust in themselves, which results in a tendency to make irrational or unreasonable decisions concerning their long-term sexual health, and a lack of trust in other gay men. As welL through the misguided and often untruthful health models that advocate fewer sexual partners and rely upon the false assumption that all potential sex partners are carriers of contagion, the sense of mistrust has been reinforced. The lack of confidence in self and others further translates into a suspicion of the motives and/or efficacy of social institutions entrusted with community health development and maintenance, rendering their efforts even less effective. Moreover, traditional harm reduction messages, especially 'fear campaigns', often act as a deterrent, rather than as an incentive, to harm reduction. Of more appeal are supportive harm reduction messages delivered by someone whom the recipient trusts, especially when the social meanings of sex, risk, trust and intimacy are, for many gay men, less fixed and more contingent than for the population at large. This means that attempts to modify risky behaviour must acknowledge and negotiate multiple meanings, shifting values and changing social climates, as well as routine epidemiological concerns. The research identifies four key themes within a problematic of trust, risk and intimacy, and delineates the harm reduction social complexities experienced by gay men in the study group; these recurring themes deal with family and early sociahzation, internalized homophobia, contingency and instability of meanings of risk, trust and sex, and the toistworthiness of the messengers of harm reduction strategies. Out of these recurring themes come a number of recommendations for remedial programs aimed at both mid- and long-term reductions in HIV incidence. The recommendations are grounded in the recognition that homophobic and/or dysfunctional social conditions are, to a great extent, implicated in sexual risk behaviour, and therefore must be eliminated or ameliorated before meaningful harm reduction gains can be realized. The discussions with the gay men in the study reveal their need for positive role models and communal social support in their efforts to combat HIV infection, suggesting a need to rethink the meanings of what it is to be gay, a need to redevelop and revitalize what was once a vibrant and cohesive corrimunity, and bearing in mind the lessons of the past, a need to re-approach the task of sternming the tide of HIV infection in ways that are sensitive to the factors that adduce high-risk sexual behaviour.

In this thesis we study peer-based communities which are online communities whose services are provided by their participant agents. In order to improve the services an agent enjoys in these communities, we need to improve the services other agents offer. Towards this goal, we propose a novel solution which allows communities to share the experience of their members with other communities. The experience of a community with an agent is captured in the evaluation rating of the agent within the community, which can either represent the trustworthiness or the reputation of the agent. We argue that exchanging this information is the right way to improve the services the agent offers since it: i) exploits the information that each community accumulates to allow other communities to decide whether to accept the agent while it also puts pressure on the agent to behave well, since it is aware that any misbehaviour will be spread to the communities it might wish to join in the future, ii) can prevent the agent from overstretching itself among many communities, since this may lead the agent to provide very limited services to each of these communities due to its limited resources, and thus its trustworthiness and reputation might be compromised. We study mechanisms that can be used to facilitate the exchange of trust or reputation information between communities. We make two key contributions. First, we propose a graph-based model which allows a particular community to determine which other communities to ask information from. We leverage consistency of past information and provide an equilibrium analysis showing that communities are best-off when they truthfully report the requested information, and describe how payments should be made to support the equilibrium. Our second contribution is a promise-based trust model where agents are judged based on the contributions they promise and deliver to the community. We outline a set of desirable properties such a model must exhibit, provide an instantiation, and an empirical evaluation.

Trust is required in file sharing peer-to-peer (P2P) systems to achieve better cooperation among peers and reduce malicious uploads. In reputation-based P2P systems, reputation is used to build trust among peers based on their past transactions and feedbacks from other peers. In these systems, reputable peers will usually be selected to upload requested files, decreasing significantly malicious uploads in the system. This thesis surveys different reputation management systems with a focus on reputation based P2P systems. We breakdown a typical reputation system into functional components. We discuss each component and present proposed solutions from the literature. Different reputation-based systems are described and analyzed. Each proposed scheme presents a particular perspective in addressing peers’ reputation. This thesis also presents a novel trust management framework and associated schemes for partially decentralized file sharing P2P systems. We address trust according to three identified dimensions: Authentic Behavior, Credibility Behavior and Contribution Behavior. Within our trust management framework, we proposed several algorithms for reputation management. In particular, we proposed algorithms to detect malicious peers that send inauthentic files, and liar peers that send wrong feedbacks. Reputable peers need to be motivated to upload authentic files by increasing the benefits received from the system. In addition, free riders need to contribute positively to the system. These peers are consuming resources without uploading to others. To provide the right incentives for peers, we develop a novel service differentiation scheme based on peers’ contribution rather than peers’ reputation. The proposed scheme protects the system against free-riders and malicious peers and reduces the service provided to them. In this thesis, we also propose a novel recommender framework for partially decentralized file sharing P2P systems. We take advantage from the partial search process used in these systems to explore the relationships between peers. The proposed recommender system does not require any additional effort from the users since implicit rating is used. The recommender system also does not suffer from the problems that affect traditional collaborative filtering schemes like the Cold start, the Data sparseness and the Popularity effect. Over all, our unified approach to trust management and recommendations allows for better system health and increased user satisfaction.

Background: Communication allows people to gain understanding of themselves and their surroundings, which is a prerequisite for good health. The nurse may in her communication help patients develop a feeling that they are not alone in their situation. If the patients cannot express themselves and make themselves understood, it can lead the patients to feel left out which emphasizes the suffering at having aphasia. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the components which affect nurse’s communication with patients with aphasia. Analysis method: A literature review was made based on eleven scientific articles in which similarities were pointed out. Results: The result of this study is presented in three main categories: Time, Environment and Strategies. Eighth subcategory emerged: Knowledge and patient under Time; Physical and psychosocial under Environment; and Verbal, Nonverbal, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Individual Care under Strategies. Conclusion: This study reveals how nurses can provide the opportunity for patients to increase self-confidence. The result suggests that a person-centered communication care plan as a basic instrument to facilitate patient and caregiver interaction is needed.

Šiomis dienomis, sparčiai augant tinklaraščių skaičiui, pateiktos informacijos kiekis internete taip pat auga. Tampa sudėtingiau atsirinkti, kurie pateikti straipsniai ir informacija juose yra naudinga, o kurią galima praleisti. Pateiktą didelį kiekį straipsnių būtų lengviau atrinkti, jeigu jie būtų kategorizuojami, įvertintinami ir kaupiami vertinimo sistemose. Kita sparčiai auganti ir populiarėjanti sritis yra socialiniai tinklai. Žmonės buriasi į virtualias bendruomenes, dalijasi savo patirtimi, sukaupta ir įvertinta informacija. Socialiniai tinklai, kol kas egzistuojančiose tinklaraščių sistemose yra nenaudojami, tačiau taikant šią sritį, būtų galima papildomai išnaudoti socialiniaime tinkle sukauptą informaciją, tokią kaip vartotojų tarpusavio pasitkėjimas. Darbe analizuojama pasitikėjimo sąvoka socialiniame tinkle, aptariamos pasitikėjimo savybės. Kuriama tinklaraščių sistema remsis socialiniu tinklu, dėl to iš čia išplaukia pagrindinė ploblema, kaip vartotojas turėtų pasitikėti nepažįstamu kitu vartotoju, remdamasis savo socialinio tinklo ryšiais. Šios problemos sprendimui yra detaliau išnagrinėjami galimi vartotojų tarpusavio skaičiavimo algoritmai. Remiantis išnagrinėtais algoritmas yra parenkamas tinkamiausias metodas – vartotojų pasitikėjimo skaičiavimui galima naudoti Jenifer Ann Golbeck [7] pasiūlytą algoritmą TidalTrust. Tačiau tinklaraščių vertinimo relizacijoje šis algoritmas turi ilgo laiko skaičiavimo problemą, detaliau problema aprašoma 3.1 skyriuje... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The main aim of this work is to create the system of weblog trust. The system will offer to user subjective evaluation about the article. To calculate the subjective evaluation there is used social network. There are users, who evaluates articles according the system of evaluation. The same time they form network of trust. Estimators doesn‘t know each other directly. There comes main question, how to calculate trust of unfamiliar users. In this study there will be elaborating algorithms of users intertrust and right selection. To TidalTrust algorithm, there will be offered extention, which solves the main problem of time counting. Using calculated algorithm of users intertrust there will be offered approach of calculation, which gives us the recomendationt of article trust.

Crowdfunding är en ny metod för att finansiera företag och projekt som under senare år börjat få momentum. Genom att använda kunskapen och kapitalet hos ”crowden” finansieras idag projekt som tidigare inte ansetts hållbara. Centralt inom alla finansieringsformer är förtroendeskapandet mellan intressenterna, dock finns inga tidigare studier kring hur crowdfundingföretag skapar förtroende till entreprenörer och finansiärer. Syftet med vår uppsats är följaktligen att utröna hur crowdfundingföretag hanterar och arbetar med förtroende mot entreprenörer och finansiärer. Totalt har sju intervjuer genomförts varav fyra var med grundare till ledande aktörer på den svenska marknaden för crowdfunding. Resultatet i studien visar på att crowdfundingföretagen arbetar med att överkomma den informationsasymmetrin som råder gentemot finansiärer och entreprenörer genom ett aktivt arbete med relationsskapande och transparens gentemot dessa. Samtidigt slås även fast att användandet av legala och tekniska strukturer för att uppnå ett förtroende inte är genomgående för de undersökta aktörerna.

Bakgrund: Ett mångkulturellt samhälle kan vara en utmaning för sjukvårdspraxis. Tillit är viktigt för att kunna bygga en välfungerande relation mellan en patient och vårdgivare. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att främja tillit hos invandrarpatienter med psykossjukdomar  Metod: Fem sjuksköterskor intervjuades med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Deltagarna jobbar inom psykiatriska vårdenheter i Stockholm. En kvalitativ design användes i denna studie. Resultat: Resultatet diskuteras utifrån de fyra kategorier och två underkategorier som uppkom i studien: Kommunikationens betydelse för tillitsskapande i psykiatrisk vård, med underkategorin värdet av tolksamtal; kroppsspråkets betydelse för tillit; kulturella skillnader gällande psykiska sjukdomar, med underkategorin kulturella skillnader i att beskriva sjukdomssymptom; närståendes betydelse för ett tillitsskapande möte. Resultaten visar att språksvårighet är ett hinder för kommunikation och för främjandet av tillit hos patienter med invandrarbakgrund och tyder på att empati och lyhördhet är grunderna för att främja tillit och skapa förtroende Diskussion: Resultaten visar att där språket inte räcker till blir den icke-verbala kommunikationen viktig. Studien beskriver också brister av kunskap, pedagogik och förhållningssätt i mötet med invandrarpatienter som har psykisk sjukdom och behovet av transkulturell utbildning inom sjukvården. / Background: A multicultural society can be a challenge for. Trust is crucial for building a well functioning relationship between a patient and a caretaker. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe nurses' experiences with promoting trust in immigrant patients with psychosis. Methods: Five nurses were interviewed with the help of semi-structured interviews. The participants work in psychiatric care units in Stockholm. A qualitative design was used for this study. Results: The results are described in four categories and two subcategories that are raised in the study: the importance of communication for creating trust in psychiatric care, with the subcategory interpreted conversation; the importance of body language for trust; cultural differences regarding mental illnesses, with the subcategory cultural differences in describing illnesses; and the signification of relatives in creating at trustful meeting. The results show that language difficulties is a barrier for communication to promote trust in psychiatric patients who are immigrants and suggests that empathy and responsiveness are the foundations for promoting trust. Discussions: The results suggests that non-verbal communication becomes important when language is not enough. The study also describes deficiencies in knowledge, education and approach in the meetings with mentally ill immigrant patients and the need for transcultural training in health care.

The purpose of our study is to see how an organization, and also a administrative authority, communicates by using social media. The organization in this case is the Swedish Police, because of their paradoxical problem with confidentiality versus openness and transparency. The Police has over a hundred Facebook-accounts, where they try to have a open dialogue with their publics without breaking the law of secrecy. Our general purpose of the study is also to see what the pros and cons are of having a own media channel, instead of the traditional media and their often anticipation twists. The result of the study showed that the three different police precincts, which we investigated in our essay, are working in three different ways. The gap may affect their overall reputation and trust gained by their publics. Both traditional media and social media often occur to the administrative authorities, and the police are working hard on maintaining the truth, before the publics create their own trueness. So far they’re not using Facebooks fully potential as a network of dialogues, and the gap between different police precincts are way to deep for them to fully functional as one authority. But on the positive side, all of them are working in the same direction, which may help them to become more alike in their communication.

This project explores the challenges of managing in times of organisational stress. The New Zealand department of corrections is facing multiple pressures which are only set to increase including: financial strictures as government funding is being highly scrutinised, greater demand as inmate numbers increase, and reduced capabilities as many staff lack experience. A grounded theory in a case study setting (three prisons in Christchurch, New Zealand) was undertaken utilising repertory grid and semi-structured interviews to explore the ways in which managers cope during times of such stress. A total of 11 interviews were conducted. In the case, I considered what differentiates effective managers from those who appear less able to cope. It was found that effective managers are those who are able to build trust and respect with their constituents. When staff trust and respect their managers it is because they feel valued and perceive their manager to be on their side; they are then willing to reciprocate. Positive regard, demonstrations of support, and leading by example were found to be key factors leading to being perceived as being on the staff’s side. The links between trust, respect and performance along with the valuation of staff wellbeing were examined.