Publikationer från Örebro universitet
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“Nää, jag fattade ju inte att vi var en konstig familj” : En kvalitativ studie om vuxna biologiska barns upplevelser av att växa upp i ett hem med familjehemsuppdrag
No full textSyftet med denna studie har varit att söka djupare kunskap om biologiska barns erfarenheter av att växa upp i familjehem. Studien har genomförts med en kvalitativ metod där sex biologiska barn som växt upp i familjehem i olika åldrar från 22-37 år har deltagit. Frågorna i intervjuerna berörde temana stöd, relationer, ansvar och delaktighet. Som forskare har vi valt att använda den nya barndomssociologin (Prout & James, 2015) för att förstå hur de biologiska barnen interagerar med andra inom sin familj och omgivning. Även Bronfenbrenners (1979) socioekologiska perspektiv har använts för att förstå hur de biologiska barnen agerar i sina olika sociala system på olika nivåer. Vi har analyserat svaren med ett barnperspektiv i åtanke, då de i retrospekt reflekterar över sina erfarenheter. Vi har genomfört sex intervjuer med sex olika biologiska barn. Resultaten visar att barnen, trots att de har haft svåra perioder och vissa instabila relationer med sina syskon, idag har goda relationer och starka band med dem. Trots vissa svåra upplevelser känner de att det har berikat deras liv. De har också upplevt brist på stöd från omgivningen när det gäller socialtjänsten, särskilt vad gäller att inkludera dem i processen kring syskonens familjehemsplacering. De ser tillbaka på sin uppväxt med värme, vilket kan kopplas till att de haft en kärleksfull familj med stort fokus på gemenskap och starkt stöd från sina föräldrar.The purpose of this study has been to seek further and deeper knowledge of biological children's experience of growing up in foster care homes. This study has used a qualitative method in which six different biological children from ages 22-37 years old that grew up in foster care homes have participated. The questions in the interviews related to the themes support, relationships, responsibilities and involvement. As researchers we have chosen to use the new childhood sociology (Prout & James, 2015) to understand how the biological children interact with others within their family and surroundings. Also the socioecological perspective of Bronfenbrenner (1979) has been used to understand how the biological children act in their different social systems on different levels. We have analyzed the answers with a children's perspective in mind as they in retrospect look back on their experiences. We have conducted six interviews with six different biological children. The results have shown that the children though they have had difficult periods and some instabile relationships with their siblings they overall do have good relationships and strong bonds with them today. Though with some difficult experiences they feel like it has enriched their lives. They have also felt a lack of support from their surroundings when it comes to social services, part of including them in the process of foster care for their siblings. They look back on their upbringing with warmth and that can be linked to having a loving family with a big emphasis on togheterness with a strong feeling of support from their parent
Agonistic teaching : Four principles
No full textThe aim of this article is to synthesize theoretical and empirical research on agonism in education into teaching principles. Agonistic theory underscores the role of conflict, emotions, and collective identities in democratic classroom discussions. Empirical studies on agonism in education provide empirical insights into how these aspects are played out in teaching practices. By synthesizing both theoretical development and empirical findings on agonism in education, this article suggests four principles for agonistic teaching. The suggested principles aim to function as a synthetization of research valuable to the research field of democratic education and as tools for teachers who want to explore the possibilities of agonism in their teaching
A thematic analysis of the experiences of prepubertal transgender and gender-diverse children in Sweden
No full textKnowledge of prepubertal transgender and gender diverse (TGD) children is limited. This study fills a gap in the research literature by exploring the lived experiences of prepubertal TGD children related to gender identity, centering their voices. Interviews with 10 TGD Swedish children 4–12 years old were analyzed through Thematic Analysis. The analysis resulted in two main themes: (1) “The journey of gender exploration,” with subthemes Discovering me and The joys, and challenges of being me; (2) “Meeting the outside world,” with subthemes Can I belong? and Staying me: my tips, tricks and help from others. The children’s evolving gender identity was traced, emphasizing emotional aspects and pivotal milestones like affirmed names. Even though the children had supportive environments, challenges of misgendering and the need for continual self-assertion were exposed. Despite struggles for recognition, the study highlights TGD children’s resilient coping and well-being. Still, cisgender norms were observed to challenge their prevalent pride and positive self-images, emphasizing the need for enhanced knowledge of gender diversity for a broader societal change. This study expands the literature on TGD children’s gender identity development, informs professionals and abroad audience and provides an enhanced understanding of TGD prepubertal children through their own words
Natural frequency shifting using water-based technique
No full textAvoiding resonance, which can occur when the system is excited by a frequency equal to or close to one of the system’s natural frequencies, is crucial to ensure a safe operational system. It is essential to ensure that the system runs at a frequency away from the natural frequencies, which are the resonance frequencies. Sometimes, it is not feasible to vary the operational frequency to avoid the resonance frequencies. Therefore, the current research presents an experimental technique, namely the water-based technique for mass variation, to introduce a method of shifting the natural frequency. A beam system, with a force exciter, accelerometer and two water tanks, is studied as a case study. The mass variation can be used to shift the natural frequency away from the excitation frequency. Different water flow rate cases are examined experimentally, and the obtained response signals are studied. The application of the presented technique is discussed. The results of the tested cases show the feasibility of changing the mass to avoid resonance. The natural frequency shifting is obtained to save the system from high resonance vibration levels that may cause damage to the system
King on the Field, King in the Hall? Organized Sport and Student Voice in Health and Physical Education
No full textInom den svenska gymnasieskolan ska alla elever ges möjlighet att utöva inflytande över undervisningen. Det är dock inte självklart att alla elever upplever att de har den möjligheten. Tidigare forskning har visat på ett samband mellan elevers idrottsbakgrund och deras upplevelse av ämnet Idrott och hälsa. Detta väcker frågan om idrottsbakgrund även kan påverka elevernas upplevelse av inflytande. Studien syftar därför till att bidra med kunskap om hur gymnasieelevers deltagande i organiserad idrott påverkar deras upplevda inflytande i idrottsundervisningen. Studien bygger på en kvantitativ tvärsnittsdesign där 127 gymnasieelever deltog genom en enkätundersökning. Resultaten visar att en betydande andel elever, nästan 20%, upplever att de inte har något inflytande alls. Elever som är aktiva inom organiserad idrott, särskilt de som varit aktiva stora delar av sin uppväxt och fortfarande är det, upplever större inflytande på idrottslektionerna jämfört med elever utan sådan erfarenhet. Elever med bakgrund inom lagidrotter rapporterar också högre grad av inflytande än de som deltar i individuella sporter. Studien bidrar med insikter om relationen mellan organiserad idrott och upplevt inflytande i ämnet Idrott och hälsa, och betonar vikten av att lärare är medvetna om dessa skillnader för att främja en mer inkluderande och jämlik undervisning i ämnet Idrott och hälsa
Where Does the Drama Pedagogue Belong? : A Qualitative Interview Study on Drama Pedagogues’ Experiences of Status in the Swedish School of the Arts
No full textSyftet med denna studie är att undersöka teaterpedagogers upplevelser av status i kulturskolan, med särskilt fokus på yrkesrollen i relation till kollegiala sammanhang och teaterämnets position i verksamheten. Studien bygger på tre semistrukturerade intervjuer med teaterpedagoger från olika kulturskolor i Sverige. Intervjuerna analyserades med hjälp av Pierre Bourdieus begrepp fält och kapital för att synliggöra hur status, resurser och erkännande fördelas inom kulturskolans sociala och organisatoriska sammanhang.Resultatet visar att samtliga teaterpedagoger arbetar ensamma inom sina respektive skolor, vilket påverkar både yrkesidentitet och arbetsmiljö. Informanterna beskriver en tydlig obalans mellan teater och musik, där musikämnet upplevs som kulturskolans kärna och därmed ges mer resurser, synlighet och legitimitet. Teaterämnet riskerar i detta sammanhang att hamna i skymundan, vilket gör att pedagogerna ofta behöver påminna kollegor och ledning om sin verksamhet. Brist på lokaler, utrustning och tid framstår som återkommande hinder. Trots dessa utmaningar framhåller informanterna att arbetet med eleverna är både meningsfullt och givande. Teaterämnet beskrivs som inkluderande och viktigt för barns kreativitet, sociala utveckling och möjlighet att uttrycka sig. Samtidigt upplever pedagogerna ett återkommande behov av att försvara och förklara ämnets värde, både gentemot kollegor, vårdnadshavare och ledning.Slutsatsen är att teaterpedagogers upplevelser av status i kulturskolan präglas av strukturella ojämlikheter i relation till andra ämnen, men också av en stark yrkesstolthet och vilja attutveckla teaterämnets roll. Studien belyser behovet av ökat kollegialt stöd, tydligare resurstilldelning och långsiktiga samarbeten för att stärka teaterpedagogens position
Learning to Understand and Predict Heterogeneous Trajectory Data
No full textRobots and other intelligent systems operating in complex, dynamic environments must anticipate the current and future intentions, activities, and actions of surrounding agents to navigate efficiently and avoid collisions. Since the agents’ motion trajectories can represent such intentions, trajectory prediction becomes critical in complex, dynamic environments. However, accurately predicting human motion remains challenging due to the multitude of environmental and agent-specific contextual factors that shape trajectory patterns. These include semantic information about the scene, agent roles or tasks, social interactions, physical constraints, and latent behavioral intentions. The complexinter play of these elements leads to heterogeneous trajectories characterized by variability in speed, direction, intent, and interaction patterns. Despite this, many state-of-the-art trajectory prediction models rely on simplifying assumptions, for instance, the absence of stopping behaviors or exclusively social navigation settings (i.e., multiple agents interacting) and training on homogeneous datasets with limited motion diversity. These limitations hinder their performance in more complex, real-world environments. A key but underexplored source of trajectory heterogeneity lies in what we suggest referring to as trajectory classes: groupings of data samples sharing similar characteristics. These may be based on observable semantic attributes (e.g., agent type, activity, role) or data-driven latent features learned from the trajectory data itself. While observable classes can be inferred through visual perception systems, data-driven classes require learning directly from trajectory data. Both types can capture important motion diversity and enhance prediction accuracy when integrated effectively into predictors. Despite their relevance, existing work on trajectory classes lacks both dedicated datasets capturing heterogeneous motion patterns and methodological approaches addressing such heterogeneity. This thesis addresses the described gaps by systematically studying the phenomenon of heterogeneity in human motion, analyzing its sources, proposing methods to collect heterogeneous trajectory data, and incorporate trajectory classes (observable and data-driven) into trajectory prediction frameworks. To answer the first research question – what types of datasets are needed to study trajectory classes and how they should be collected – we introduce THÖR-MAGNI, a large-scale dataset recorded in a mock industrial environment. The dataset captures a wide range of agent activities and roles (e.g., box carriers, groups of people), which can be seen as observable classes, and provides detailed annotations for analyzing these classes in the context of human trajectory prediction. Its complexity and diversity also make it well-suited for learning and analyzing data-driven trajectory classes. We leverage THÖRMAGNI to study the influence of trajectory classes, reflecting underlying human activities or roles in industrial contexts, on trajectory prediction. This thesis primarily investigates both observable and data-driven trajectory classes as mechanisms to improve prediction accuracy. For observable classes, we ask: How can observable classes be leveraged to enhance trajectory prediction? We extend deep learning models to explicitly and efficiently incorporate observable classes. We evaluate their performance on THÖR-MAGNI and a state-of-the-art imbalanced outdoor dataset. Unlike previous approaches, our models do not require class-specific modules, making them inherently more scalable and memory-efficient. We also demonstrate that pattern-based approaches, such as Maps of Dynamics, outperform deep learning models in low-data and class-imbalanced regimes, which are present in robotics, particularly in cold-start settings where robots operate with minimal prior knowledge. However, observable classes can be ambiguous due to their static assignment of a single label to all trajectories of a given agent. This assumption is sometimes disregarded in real-world settings, where a single agent may perform diverse behavioral patterns. To address this limitation, we extend the THÖRMAGNI dataset with fine-grained, frame-level action annotations, resulting in THÖR-MAGNI Act. By leveraging this enriched dataset, we demonstrate that frame-based action labels provide strong contextual cues. When integrated through direct conditioning or multi-task learning frameworks that jointly model trajectories and action sequences, actions help disambiguate static class assumptions and improve prediction accuracy. In particular, augmenting the state representation with frame-level action signals mitigates the limitations of static observable classes by capturing intra-agent behavioral variability. For data-driven classes (those not directly observable), we first investigate how to learn them effectively from trajectory data in the context of prediction tasks. To this end, we propose a novel deep generative framework inspired by self-conditioning techniques from image modeling. Our Self-Conditioned generative model learns trajectory clusters that are intrinsically linked to the generative process itself, allowing these clusters to hold privileged information to guide and enhance the training of downstream predictors. Unlike traditional clustering methods, which often fail to capture minority patterns, our approach more effectively identifies less dominant classes, such as the stopping behavior, improving prediction accuracy across underrepresented trajectory modes. We further integrate these learned classes into a multi-stage prediction framework, where the trajectory classes explicitly condition generative models, leading to more accurate and probabilistically informed predictions. In summary, this thesis provides a comprehensive investigation of the phenomenon of heterogeneity in human trajectory data. It presents methods to analyze natural motion variability, identify meaningful trajectory clusters, quantify their influence on prediction accuracy, and develop mechanisms to integrate this information into deep learning-based predictors. Together, these contributions support more accurate, robust, and context-aware prediction methods for robotics and intelligent systems operating in dynamic human environments
Surgical Complexity in Rectal CancerAfter Neoadjuvant Therapy : A Retrospective Comparison of the LARCT-US Protocol and Long-Course Chemoradiotherapy at Örebro University Hospital (2016–2023)
No full textIntroduction: In Sweden, the protocolknown asLARCT-US(Locally advanced rectal cancer treatment –Uppsala style) is a total neoadjuvant therapy used to treatlocally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). LARCT-US is based on the RAPIDOtrial whichrandomized over 900 patientsbetween 2011 and 2016. However, itsimpact on subsequent surgical complexityremains unclear. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of LARCT-US versus conventional long-course chemoradiotherapy(CRT)on the complexity of abdominal surgeries in patients with LARC treated in the ÖrebroUniversity Hospitalbetween 2016 and 2023. Methods: Patients with LARCtreated at Örebro University Hospital between 2016 and 2023 were identified via the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry. Clinical and perioperative data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Patients were grouped by neoadjuvant treatment (LARCT-US vs. CRT). Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics, including multivariate analysis. Results Among 84 patients (44 CRT, 40 LARCT-US), surgical complications (40% vs. 20%,p = 0.042) and readmissions (17% vs. 2%,p = 0.045) were more common in the LARCT-US group. Non-significant trends were observed for longer surgery, more reoperations, and longer hospital stays. In the binary logistic regression, only type of surgery was independently associated with surgical complications (p = 0.024). Conclusion: While LARCT-US was associated with higher complication rates in unadjusted analyses, neoadjuvant treatment type was not an independent predictor of surgical outcomes. Surgical factors, particularly procedure type, appear to have greater influence. Prospective, multicenter studies are warranted to further investigate the surgical implications of neoadjuvant treatment strategies in LARC
Organhandel : en etisk analys
No full textBakgrund: 1954 ägde den första lyckade njurtransplantationen rum och mot slutet av 1960-talethade flera andra organ transplanterats.Organtransplantationernaökade under 1980-talet, främst genominförandet av immunosuppressiva läkemedel. Under 1980-talet kom även de första rapporterna om organhandel. Idag är organhandel ett globalt fenomen,enligt uppskattningar används organ från svarta marknaden vid 5-10% av alla transplantationer. Det finns en stor brist på organ vilket orsakarlidande ochdödsfall. Ett förslag för att öka tillgången på organ är att legalisera organhandeln. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva vilka riktlinjer som finns för organhandel i nuläget samt att genomföra en etisk analys av organhandel genom att söka efter argument som talar för och emot. Metod: Studien använder en hermeneutisk metod där tolkning av texter är centralt. Sökningar har gjorts i PubMed och Web of Science. Andra relevanta källor har inkluderats, bland annat rapporter från FN, Världshälsoorganisationen, Europarådet och Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group. Resultat: Enligt den hermeneutiska metoden analyserades och tolkades texter med syftet att hitta argument för och emot organhandel. Argumenten för och emot organhandel presenterades i kategorierna: autonomi, exploatering, människovärde och kommodifiering samt organhandelns möjliga konsekvenser. I resultatet presenteras även några internationella konventioner och riktlinjer för transplantation, samtliga fördömer och syftar till att motarbeta organhandel. Slutsats: Motståndare till organhandel lyfter bland annat fram argument som risk för exploatering och kommodifiering av människan. Förespråkare hänvisar ofta till autonomiprincipen samt den stora organbrist som finns globalt. De menar att fler människor skulle varabenägna att donera sina organ vid ekonomisk kompensation.
Ofrivillig ensamhet bland vuxna : En kvalitativ analys av tillgängliga insatser utifrån KASAM
No full textDenna studie syftar till att undersöka hur yrkesverksamma inom frivilligorganisationer som arbetar med ofrivilligt ensamma vuxna uppfattar denna målgrupps situation och förbättringsmöjligheter utifrån Antonovskys teori om Känslan av sammanhang (KASAM). Studien använder tidigare forskning och semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex individer som arbetar med ofrivilligt ensamma vuxna för att uppnå studiens syfte. Resultaten visar att respondenterna uppfattar målgruppen som mångfaldig eftersom det ofrivilligt ensammas förutsättningar innan de söker stöd varierar. Samtliga respondenter använder sig av den arbetsinriktade dagen vilket syftar på en metod som de yrkesverksamma använder för att skapa meningsfullhet och gemenskap hos målgruppen. Resultaten visar att detta uppfattades ge goda förbättringsmöjligheter och ökade chansen för de ofrivilligt ensamma vuxna att komma ut i arbete eller studier. Begriplighet och hanterbarhet utifrån KASAM påverkade också målgruppens mående, dock inte i lika stor grad som meningsfullhet enligt respondenterna. Den tidigare forskningen visar att det finns en mängd olika riskfaktorer som kan bidra till ensamhet hos olika individer. Resultaten kan dock inte identifiera hur dessa faktorer interagerar och påverkar varandra. Slutligen diskuterar studien hur tillgängliga insatser bidrar till en förbättring av målgruppens situation. Däremot uppfattas det saknas forskning om underliggande faktorer som påverkar ensamhet hos vuxna då mycket forskning görs på barn och äldre istället. Författarna ser därför gärna att framtida forskning på ofrivilligt ensamma vuxna utförs, förslagsvis genom intervjuer direkt med målgruppen för att skapa en bättre förståelse för de bakomliggande processer som påverkar deras förbättringsmöjligheter.This study aims to investigate how social workers working with involuntary lonely adults perceive the target group’s current situation and potential for improvement by using Antonovsky's theory of Sense of Cohesion. The study uses prior research and semi-structured interviews with six individuals who work with involuntary lonely adults, to achieve this goal. The results show that the target group is diverse due to their initial conditions prior to seeking aid varying greatly. All interviewees use the so called “work oriented day” which is a method for the working professional to create meaningfulness and community amongst the target group. The results further show that this produced good opportunities for improvement and increased the chance for the involuntary lonely adults to start studying or working. Comprehensibility and Manageability, as explained through Sense of Cohesion, also affects the target group's state of mind, however not to the same degree as meaningfulness. The prior research shows an array of different risk factors which can contribute to loneliness amongst individuals. The results are however unable to identify how these factors interact and affect each other. Lastly the study discusses how available aid contributes to improvement of the target groups current situation. There is however a perceived lack of research regarding the underlying factors that affect loneliness amongst adults since a lot of research is done on children and the elderly instead. The authors would therefore like to see future research done on involuntary lonely adults, preferably through interviews done directly with the target group to create a better understanding about how underlying processes can impact their opportunities for improvement