Publikationer från Högskolan i Gävle
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The intervention effects of music therapy on children with autism : A descriptive literature review
No full textBackground: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social communication and stereotyped behaviors. Music therapy (MT) as a non-pharmacological intervention has shown potential to improve symptoms in children with ASD in recent years, but its specific efficacy still needs to be systematically evaluated.Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the intervention effects of music therapy in children aged 4-8 years with ASD, focusing on its improvement in social communication skills and stereotypical behaviors.Methods: A descriptive literature review design was used to search PubMed and Cinahl databases for relevant studies from 2014 to 2024. Inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies in children aged 4-8 years with ASD. Finally, 10 studies were selected for data extraction and classification analysis.Results: Music therapy (especially improvisational music therapy and neurological music therapy) significantly improved the abilities of children with ASD in terms of social-emotional interaction, nonverbal communication, and interpersonal relationship-building. In addition, MT reduced repetitive behaviors, abnormal attention, and abnormal sensory responses.Conclusions: Music therapy can be an effective adjuvant therapy for children with ASD, promoting social participation and autonomous behavior through structured interaction, but its long-term effects and applicability need further study
The experience of advanced cancer patientsand their families : A descriptive literature review
No full textBackground:Due to population aging, the global incidence of cancer is on the rise, and cancer has become the leading cause of death worldwide. Palliative care, as a specialized supportive therapy, aims to improve the end-of-life experience of patients with advanced cancer and their families by alleviating symptoms caused by cancer. However, there are significant differences in service quality and accessibility. Understanding the experiences of patients with advanced cancer and their families can help nurses better understand their needs and provide support, improve the quality of care.Aim:The aim of the study is to describe the experience of advanced cancer patients and their families.Design:The design of this study is a descriptive literature reviewMethod:Ten articles were retrieved from PubMed to answer the purpose of this review. By reading the selected articles, the authors collate and compare their results and summarize the experience of advanced cancer patients and their families.Result:Through an inductive analysis of 10 articles describing the experiences of patients with advanced cancer and/or their families,we summarized the results into four themes:(1) Physiological impact (2) Psychological changes (3)Spiritual experience (4) Social support.Conclusion:This study highlights the multifaceted challenges faced by patients with advanced cancer and their families. Insight into these experiences can guide healthcare professionals to optimize palliative care interventions, and nurses are able to play a key role between medical interventions and holistic patient-centered care, ultimately promoting dignity, autonomy, compassion, and effectiveness throughout the palliative care process
The Effects of Multimodality on Receptive Vocabulary Acquisition Through Read-Alouds in the Swedish Lower Primary EFL Classroom : A quasi experiment on the effects of reading aloud with or without showing pictures as visual aids
No full textIt is important for children to learn English through both verbal and non-verbal support. This study aimed to research the effects of reading aloud to Swedish first grade pupils, with and without the use of multimodality, by showing pictures simultaneously as narrating. The study was based on the dual coding theory and the cognitive theory of multimedia learning. The method used was a quasi-experiment inspired by similar previous research conducted on other school ages in other parts of the world. The main findings of the study were that the experimental group that was exposed to multimodality during the read aloud had a greater vocabulary acquisition than the control group. An unexpected pattern was also found in the results of the study, showing that there was a noticeable difference between the results of the genders in the assessments. A higher percentage of girls than percentage of boys, in both the control group and the experimental group, scored a higher target word score in both the posttest and the delayed posttest compared to the pretest. Further research on using multimodality when reading aloud to children is suggested to fill in any research gaps. The suggestions for future research are to conduct a similar experiment with more participants, in the same time frame of the day with both groups, with more time having passed before conducting the delayed posttest as well as triangulating the research
Optimising phase change materials for ventilated building components in sustainable building design: a comprehensive review
No full textThe rise in energy-efficient, sustainable building operations necessitates the development of advanced innovations that reduce heating and cooling demands while maintaining comfortable indoor thermal conditions. Phase change materials (PCMs) demonstrate significant potential as a stabilization mechanism through latent heat storage for managing residential indoor temperatures; however, their integration into systems requires further optimisation. This review examines PCM-assisted ventilation technologies—specifically ventilated façades, roofs, and windows—highlighting their energy performance, which ranges from 7.7 % to 32.8 %, and their capacity to reduce peak temperatures by 2.5 °C to 7.02 °C. These improvements are influenced by PCM thickness of 15–35 mm and melting temperatures of 15–37 °C. The combination of PCM-enhanced hybrid systems with natural or mechanical ventilation has shown greater operational effectiveness, particularly in hot climates and when integrated with adaptive control systems to achieve optimal performance. Despite their benefits, widespread adoption of PCM technologies is hindered by high material costs, hysteresis effects, and limited discharge cycle efficiency. Nevertheless, PCM-enhanced ventilation systems have proven capable of supporting sustainable, low-energy buildings. Continued research is needed to develop cost-effective design strategies, automated control mechanisms, and climate-responsive optimisations to fully realize their potential.
Community climate commons for collective climate action
No full textMitigating and adapting to climate change is a vital challenge that cannot rely solelyon technology or macro policies but need also be tailored to local social and ecologi-cal contexts. As theory suggests, institutional designs that increase collective climateaction could potentially speed up climate action in society. In this article we explorethe concept of ‘community climate commons’ (CCCs) to foster interconnected andholistic approaches involving citizens and civil society in addressing climate change.Based on a systematic literature review, the aim is to further develop the concept ofCCCs and to identify key features for the successful establishment of CCCs for thepromotion of collective climate action. The results identify four key features forCCCs: (1) democratic organization with transformative leadership, (2) small groupsizes with clear boundaries and existing rules-in-use for participation, (3) access toorganizational structures, meeting places, social capital, collective identity, and socialcohesion, and (4) external financial, political, and social support. In conclusion, CCCshave a real potential to foster a wider societal mobilization of collective climateaction while simultaneously addressing other issues of concern in local communities.Urban CommonsFAIRTRAN
Resultatmanipulering i förhållande till coronapandemin : En studie av svenska börsnoterade bolag
No full textSyfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka förekomsten av resultatmanipulering bland svenska börsnoterade företag i förhållande till coronapandemin. Vid kristider, såsom coronapandemin, upplever många företag en ökad finansiell stress, vilket förstärker incitamenten till resultatmanipulering. Tidigare forskning visar varierande resultat och fokuserar huvudsakligen på pandemins första år. Den här studien syftar därför till att bidra med nya insikter utifrån en specifik institutionell kontext, den svenska marknaden, med analys av resultatmanipulering före, under och efter pandemin. Metod: Studien använder en kvantitativ metod som utgår från en deduktiv ansats med en kunskapssyn ur positivismen. Den modifierade Jones-modellen används för att detektera resultatmanipulering via diskretionära periodiseringar. Statistiska tester som regressionsanalys och t-tester tillämpas i syfte att besvara studiens hypoteser. Datamaterial inhämtas från databasen Retriever och analyseras i statistikprogrammet minitab. Resultat och slutsats: Studien finner att coronapandemin har en signifikant påverkan på förekomsten av resultatmanipulering via diskretionära periodiseringar bland svenska börsnoterade företag. Resultatmanipuleringen ökade under pandemin och företagen manipulerade i syfte att sänka det redovisade resultatet. Studien finner även att förekomsten av resultatmanipulering via diskretionära periodiseringar minskade efter pandemins slut. Studiens bidrag: Studien bidrar med aktuell empirisk evidens om hur resultatmanipulering påverkas under exogena chocker som coronapandemin, inom en svensk kontext. Genom att inkludera tre tidsperioder erbjuder studien en mer omfattande bild av de förändringar som sker i företags finansiella beteenden över tid, i jämförelse med tidigare forskning inom ämnet. Förslag till framtida forskning: Vid framtida forskning, vore det aktuellt att inkludera resultatmanipulering via verkliga aktiviteter för att få en uppfattning av de totala aktiviteterna kopplat till resultatmanipulering. En fördjupad analys om specifika branscher är relevant för att förstå skillnader i finansiella beteenden inom olika branscher under krisen. Det vore även intressant att undersöka hur företagsstorlek och andra bakomliggande faktorer påverkar val kopplat till resultatmanipulering.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the occurrence of earnings management among Swedish publicly listed companies in relation to the covid-19 pandemic. During times of crisis, such as the covid-19 pandemic, many companies experience increased financial pressure, which strengthens the incentives for earnings management. Previous research presents mixed findings and primarily focuses on the first year of the pandemic. This study therefore aims to contribute new insights within a specific institutional context, the Swedish market, by analyzing earnings management before, during and after the pandemic. Method: The study adopts a quantitative method based on a deductive approach and a positivist epistemology. The modified Jones model is used to detect earnings management through discretionary accruals. Statistical tests, including regression analysis and t-tests, are applied to address the study’s hypotheses. Data is collected from the Retriever database and analyzed using the statistical software Minitab. Result and conclusion: The study finds that the covid-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the occurrence of earnings management through discretionary accruals among Swedish publicly listed companies. Earnings management increased during the pandemic, and firms manipulated earnings in order to decrease reported profits. The study also finds that the occurrence of earnings management through discretionary accruals decreased after the end of the pandemic. Contribution of the study: The study provides current empirical evidence on how earnings management is affected during exogenous shocks such as the covid-19 pandemic, within a Swedish context. By including three time periods, the study offers a more comprehensive view of changes in corporate financial behavior over time, in comparison with previous studies within the subject. Suggestions for future research: In future research, it would be appropriate to include earnings management through real activities to gain a more complete understanding of the extent of such practices. A more in-depth analysis of specific industries is relevant for understanding differences in financial behavior across sectors during the crisis. It would also be interesting to examine how firm size and other underlying factors influence choices related to earnings management.
Good leadership : A qualitative study of employees' perceptions of good leadership in elderly care
No full textLedarskap spelar en avgörande roll både i organisationer och i samhället. Tidigareforskning visar att ledarskap har en inverkan på medarbetarna och påverkar deras sätt attarbeta. Denna studie har till syfte att undersöka hur medarbetare uppfattar gott ledarskapinom äldreomsorgen. Fokus i studien har legat på att närmare undersöka vilka aspekterav ledarskap som medarbetarna uppskattar och värdesätter hos en chef, för attarbetsplatsen ska fungera väl.Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ metod och tematisk analys, där materialeterhölls genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex anställda vid ett vård- ochomsorgsboende. Den tematiska analysen användes för att identifiera centrala temaninom materialet, och resultatet presenterades utifrån dessa teman. Resultatenanalyserades med stöd av teorin om transformativt och salutogent ledarskap, vilketbreddar förståelsen för de faktorer som påverkar medarbetarnas arbetstillfredsställelse.Studien lyfter fram de viktigaste ledarskapsfaktorerna enligt informanterna, såsom attvara en effektiv och stödjande ledare med ett helhetsperspektiv, ha fokus påarbetsmiljön, lyssna aktivt samt vara tillgänglig. Resultaten kring hur medarbetarnauppfattar gott ledarskap visar ett tydligt samband med vad tidigare forskning beskrivitom ledarskapets betydelse och dess påverkan på medarbetare. Studien synliggör även deviktigaste aspekterna av gott ledarskap som främjar välbefinnande och hurledarskapsbeteende kan bidra till medarbetarnas trivsel och utveckling på arbetsplatse
Från kursplan till klassrum : Hur lärare tolkar och tillämpar andraspråksperspektivet i den tidiga läs- och skrivundervisningen
No full textDenna studie undersöker hur lågstadielärare tolkar och tillämpar ett andraspråksperspektiv i den tidiga läs- och skrivundervisningen. Teoretiska ramar är ett sociokulturellt perspektiv på lärande, The Simple View of Reading och The Literacy Engagement Framework. Genom kvalitativa intervjuer med svensklärare som vidareutbildar sig i svenska som andraspråk, analyseras deras didaktiska val och uppfattningar om vad ett andraspråksperspektiv i den tidiga läs- och skrivundervisningen innebär. Resultaten visar att lärare betonar vikten av fonologisk medvetenhet, avkodning, ordförrådsutveckling och stöttning. De framhåller också betydelsen av att koppla undervisningen till elevernas liv och erfarenheter samt att bekräfta deras identitet genom att använda flerspråkighet som resurs. Lärarna upplever dock hinder som tidsbrist, parallellundervisning i svenska och svenska som andraspråk i samma grupp, och bristande kollegial kompetens, för att tillämpa ett andraspråksperspektiv i läs- och skrivundervisningen. Studien pekar på behovet av utbildning i svenska som andraspråk för lärare på lågstadiet och resurser för att förbättra undervisningen för elever med svenska som andraspråk. Den pekar även på vikten av att skapa bättre organisatoriska förutsättningar för att säkerställa att dessa elever får den undervisning de har rätt till
Autentiskt ledarskap och dess hantering av stress inom fastighetsmäklarbranschen
No full textThis study examines the relationship between authentic leadership and perceived stress among real estate agents. Using a quantitative survey design, the research explores how employees perceive their manager’s leadership style in relation to their own stress levels. The results show no statistically significant correlation between authentic leadership and stress, but the study highlights important industry-specific insights regarding the role of leadership in employee well-being. It also emphasizes the need for further research, focusing on alternative leadership styles and qualitative methods
Unveiling exogenous gaps enabling a cluster organization’s internationalization process
No full textPurpose We examined the internationalization process of business promotion organizations. We focused on the key stages and strategies and how the networks formed during this process can support their partners, particularly SMEs, in facilitating international expansion. Design/methodology/approach The theoretical lens: We combined the experiential learning-commitment interplay of the Uppsala model with a similar mechanism focused on business network relationships. A qualitative methodology: We used it to explore the question and the various forms of embeddedness within networks, offering an in-depth examination, particularly in the challenging natural settings of a cluster organization in geographic information systems (GIS). Findings We found that the cluster organization’s internationalization began regionally, forging connections with clusters in the Nordic and Baltic countries and Europe. Over time, the cluster recognized the importance of innovation leadership, leading to the integration of its core competencies with complementary technologies from other global geospatial technology hubs. Research limitations/implications The study fills research gaps by examining global linkages between regional clusters and international partners, focusing on external gaps. We explored how clusters can leverage global innovation systems and networks for matchmaking, capitalization and investment. Moreover, we addressed the need for more research on cross-cluster gaps and barriers to global market interaction. By providing insights into expanding beyond local interactions, the study enhances understanding of how clusters can increase the global reach and competitiveness of firms within them. Originality/value The platform established during the internationalization process was crucial, as SMEs within clusters often lack the resources, time and expertise to enter international markets alone. This platform helps SMEs overcome barriers such as size, resources and unfamiliarity with foreign markets