Publikationer från Karlstads Universitet
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Happy street, do you exist anymore? : An econarratological Analysis of Stockholm as space in Minns du den stad
No full text This essay examines how Stockholm is represented as place and space in Per Anders Fogelström’s Minns du den stad?(1964) from an eco-narratological perspective. Using ecocritical spatial analysis and narratological concepts, particularly focalisation, the study analyses how the city’s environments are shaped through narration and endowed with cultural and emotional significance.The analysis demonstrates that Stockholm does not merely function as a backdrop, but emerges as an active and meaning-producing agent in the novel. Through shifting focalisation between an omniscient bird’s-eye perspective and character-centred experiences, both historically panoramic and subjective spaces are constructed. These perspectives interact in the depiction of the city’s modernisation.Particular attention is given to thematic spaces characterised by idyllic enclaves and nostalgic ambivalence. The advance of modernisation is portrayed as both necessary and problematic, as improved living conditions are weighed against the loss of nature, community, and collective memory. The essay thus shows how Fogelström’s novel offers an ecocritical reflection on the relationship between the city, human beings, and change in early twentieth-century Stockholm
The absurd children’s picture book : A study of the children’s picture book adaptation of Waiting for Godot
No full textDet uppsatsen önskar bidra med är kunskap om vad det som händer med ett absurt och existentiellt drama skrivet åt en vuxen publik omformas till en bilderboksadaption för barn 3-6 år. Samuel Becketts pjäs I väntan på Godot från 1953 tillhör ett av de mest studerade verken i västvärlden. Verket är ett tragikomiskt drama som kan beskrivas som en antiberättelse eftersom det såväl saknar ett tydligt handlingsförlopp som uttrycklig början och slut. Något uppsatsen tidigt argumenterar för är att Becketts komplexa pjäs mångt och mycket går att se som barnlitteraturens motpol vars grunder istället är att den ska vara av en enkel texttyp. Kännetecknande för barnlitteraturens berättelser är ett tydligt och begränsat handlingsförlopp innehållandes platta karaktärer vars utvändiga gestaltningar helst är av god eller ond natur. En adaption beskriver Simon Wessbo som en ursprungsberättelses förflyttning i en bestämd riktning. Något som oftast sker mellan två medium men även kan ske mellan tänkta målgrupper. Adaptionens avsedda välkomnande kräver i sin tur att den på ett eller annat sätt anpassas och helst bibehåller en trogenhet till originalet. Att originalberättelsen genom förflyttningen må utvecklas men dess kardinalfunktioner, ursprungsberättelsens ekon finns kvar hos adaptionen. Barnboksförfattaren och illustratören Anna Höglund gav 2021 ut barnbilderboksadaptionen Didi & Gogo väntar på bussen inspirerat av just Becketts absurda drama, fast mot målgruppen barn 3-6 år. Vad finns kvar av ursprungsberättelsen och hur förändras det absurda och existentiella dramats ton och teman när den byter målgrupp? Inom litteraturen räknas bilderboken som ett unikum då den till skillnad mot övrig barnlitteratur inte har någon vuxen föregångare att hämta inspiration ifrån. Mycket barnlitteratur rymmer estetiskt förklarande bilder, stödjande åt berättelsen. Men hos bilderboken kan varken text eller bild stå ensamt, de är i beroende av varandra och berättelsen vilar på en samverkande relation mellan text och bild. Bilderbokens bi- och trimediala egenskaper gör att den ses som interartielt besläktad med serietidningen, filmen, operan och teatern. Med hjälp av tidigare adaptions, barn -och bilderboksforskning analyseras och jämförs de två verken för att undersöka hur originalberättelsen förändrats hos bilderboksadaptionen liksom förstå vad som medfört att dessa förändringar skett. Ett av de resultat undersökningen visar är att bilderbokens narration skiljer sig mellan vem det är som läser, och att dens fulländade narrativ bäst inhämtas genom en ödmjuk kongenial läsning. The essay wishes to contribute to knowledge about what happens when an absurd and existen- tial drama written for an adult audience is transformed into a picture book adaptation for children aged 3-6. Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot from 1953 is one of the most studied works in the Western world. The work is a tragicomic drama that can be described as an antistory since it lacks both a clear plot as well as an explicit beginning and end. Something the essay early argues is that Beckett's complex play in many ways can be seen as the antithesis of children's literature where one of the foundations is that it should be of a simple text type. Furthermore, characteristic for children's literature stories is a clear and limited course of action containing flat characters whose appearances are external and preferably of a good or evil nature. Simon Wessbo describes an adaptation as a movement of an original story in a specific direction. Something that most often happens between two mediums but can also happen between intended target groups. The envisioned welcome of the adaptation in turn requires that it be adapted in one way or another and preferably maintains a loyalty to the original story. That the original may be developed through the transfer, but its cardinal functions, the echoes of the original story, remain in the adaptation. Children's book author and illustrator Anna Höglund published a children's picture book adaptation Didi & Gogo väntar på bussen in 2021 inspired by Beckett's absurd drama but aimed at children aged 3-6. What remains of the original story and how do the tone and themes of the absurd and existential drama change when it changes target audience? In literature, the picture book is considered unique because, unlike other children's literature, it has no adult predecessor to draw inspiration from. Much children's literature contains aesthetically explanatory images, supporting the story. But in the case of a picture book, neither text nor image can stand alone, they are dependent on each other and the story rests on a collaborative relationship between text and image. The bi- and trimedial properties of the picture book mean that it is seen as interartically related to the comic strip, film, opera and theatre. Using previous adaptation, children-and picture book research, the two works are analyzed and compared to examine how the original story has changed in the picture book adaptation as well as to understand what has led to these changes. One of the results the study shows is that the picture book's narration differs depending on who is reading it, and that its complete narrative is best obtained through a humble, congenial reading.
Habitat preferences of the invasive terrestrial flatworm (Obama nungara)
No full textThe South American species Obama nungara has spread to several European countries over the past decade, raising great concern due to its potential to negatively affect soil biodiversity. Despite increased research, little is still known about the species' ecological requirements and its potential dispersal routes. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate whether O. nungara exhibits a preference for a certain soil type, with the hypothesis that the species prefers soils with low pH. In a laboratory experiment, eleven adult individuals were offered a choice between four soil types with varying pH and nutrient content. After 24 hours, each individual's position was noted as an indicator of its preferred soil type. The choices were analysed with a one-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test to test whether the individuals' habitat choices deviated from a random distribution. The results showed that O. nungara avoided soils with a higher pH, and the hypothesis is thus partially supported. Most observations were made in the most acidic soil followed by the most nutrient-rich soil, suggesting that pH may not be the only factor influencing habitat selection. The study provides new insights into the behaviour and habitat selection of O. nungara and the results can be used to predict the species’ potential spread.Den sydamerikanska lövplattmasken Obama nungara har under det senaste decenniet spridit sig till flera europeiska länder och väckt stor oro då den riskerar att påverka markens biologiska mångfald negativt. Det finns fortfarande stora kunskapsluckor om artens ekologiska krav och potentiella spridningsvägar. Syftet med denna studie var därför att undersöka om arten uppvisar preferens för en viss jordtyp, med hypotesen att arten föredrar jordar med lågt pH. I ett laboratorieexperiment fick elva vuxna individer välja mellan fyra jordtyper med varierande pH och näringsinnehåll. Efter 24 timmar noterades varje individs position, och detta tolkades som dess föredragna jordtyp. Valen analyserades med ett one-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test för att testa om individernas habitatval avvek från en slumpmässig fördelning. Resultaten visade att O. nungara undviker jordar med ett högre pH och hypotesen får alltså visst stöd. Majoriteten av observationerna gjordes i den allra suraste jorden följt av den mest näringsrika jorden, vilket antyder att pH kanske inte är den enda faktorn som påverkar plattmaskarnas val. Studien bidrar med ny kunskap om O. nungaras beteende och habitatval och resultaten kan användas för att förutsäga artens potentiella spridning
Project Managers’ Motivation to Begin Master’s Studies : A Qualitative Interview Study Using on Self-Determination Theory as a Theoretical Framework
No full textDenna studie undersöker hur yrkesverksamma projektledare motiverar beslutet att påbörja magisterstudier i projektledning. Med Self-Determination Theory (SDT) som teoretiskt ramverk analyseras fyra teman: autonomi, kompetens, samhörighet samt förutsättningar för att kunna påbörja studier. Studien bygger på elva semistrukturerade intervjuer med studenter och alumner från magisterprogrammet i projektledning vid Karlstads universitet. Resultaten visar att beslutet främst präglades av inre och identifierad motivation. Autonomi uttrycktes genom upplevelsen av ett självstyrt beslut i linje med individuella värderingar och livssituation. Kompetens framstod som den starkaste drivkraften, där behov av teoretisk förankring, professionell utveckling och ökad trygghet i projektledarrollen var centrala. Samhörighet hade en stödjande funktion, där socialt stöd möjliggjorde genomförandet av studierna snarare än drev beslutet. Därutöver visade resultaten att livsfas, arbetsbelastning och erfarenhetsnivå påverkade när studier upplevdes som möjliga att påbörja. Studien bidrar med fördjupad förståelse för hur projektledares utbildningsbeslut formas i samspelet mellan motivation, psykologiska behov och praktiska livsvillkor.This study examines how practicing project managers motivate their decision to begin master’s studies in project management. Using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as the theoretical framework, four themes are analysed: autonomy, competence, relatedness, and conditions for being able to begin studies. The study is based on eleven semi-structured interviews with students and alumni from the master’s programme in project management at Karlstad University. The results show that the decision was mainly characterised by intrinsic and identified motivation. Autonomy was expressed through the experience of a self-directed decision aligned with individual values and life circumstances. Competence emerged as the strongest driving force, where the need for theoretical grounding, professional development, and increased confidence in the project manager role was central. Relatedness had a supportive function, where social support enabled participation in the studies rather than driving the decision itself. In addition, the results show that life stage, workload, and level of experience influenced when studies were perceived as possible to begin. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how project managers’ educational decisions are shaped by the interplay between motivation, psychological needs, and practical life conditions
Projektkommunikation via Facebook och Instagram
No full textThe purpose of the study was to investigate citizens' trust in information about social infrastructure projects, depending on which social media platform the information was conveyed through. The assumption is that there is a difference in trust in the information depending on whether it is conveyed via Facebook or Instagram. The research design and methods used are a quantitative comparative cross-sectional study based on 74 online survey responses from citizens registered in Halmstad Municipality. The study examines the use of social media, as well as the perception of project communication based on the variables satisfaction with the information, relevance of the information and reliability. The results show that the residents who took part in the study are frequent users of social media, but that these platforms are rarely used as sources of information about infrastructure projects. The differences in perceived satisfaction and reliability of the information conveyed via Facebook and Instagram are small. The results further show that there is a difference, indicating that Facebook has somewhat higher relevance for the target group than Instagram. Based on the study’s findings, it is recommended that project managers for social infrastructure projects ensure that communication via social media is both relevant and targeted to defined target groups. Since the municipality’s website shows a higher level of trust than social platforms, this aspect should be integrated into stakeholder analyses and communication plans. Furthermore, digital channels should be complemented with personal meetings to enable dialogue with the project manager, which in turn can help to strengthen trust in the project owner.Syftet med studien har varit att undersöka medborgarnas förtroende för information om sociala infrastrukturprojekt, beroende på via vilken social medieplattform informationen förmedlats. Antagandet var att det finns en skillnad i förtroendet för informationen beroende på om den förmedlas via Facebook eller Instagram. Forskningsdesign och metoder som använts är en kvantitativ jämförande tvärsnittsstudie baserad på 74 webbenkätsvar från medborgare folkbokförda i Halmstads kommun. Studien undersöker användningen av sociala medier, samt uppfattningen av projektkommunikation utifrån variablerna tillfredsställelse med informationen, informationens relevans och tillförlitlighet. Resultaten visar att de kommuninvånare som deltagit i studien är frekventa användare av sociala medier, men att dessa plattformar sällan används som informationskällor om infrastrukturprojekt. Skillnaderna i upplevd tillfredsställelse och tillförlitlighet av den information som förmedlats via Facebook och Instagram är små. Resultaten visar vidare att det finns en skillnad och evidens för att Facebook har något högre relevans för målgruppen än Instagram. Baserat på studiens resultat rekommenderas att projektledare för sociala infrastrukturprojekt säkerställer att kommunikationen via sociala medier är både relevant och riktad mot definierade målgrupper. Eftersom kommunens webbplats uppvisar ett högre förtroende än sociala plattformar bör denna aspekt integreras i intressentanalyser och kommunikationsplaner. Vidare bör digitala kanaler kompletteras med personliga möten för att möjliggöra dialog med projektledaren, vilket i sin tur kan bidra till att stärka förtroendet för projektägaren
Linguistic framing and individual’s mindset : Factors associated to individuals outlook towards sustainability work
No full textClimate change constitutes on of the greatest societal challenges of our time and requires extensive sustainability efforts at multiple levels. Despite a high level of awareness of climate related issues, individuals` attitudes and support for sustainability initiatives vary. Previous research suggests that both psychological factors, such as individuals` mindset and contextual factors, such as how sustainability efforts are communicated, can influence people`s attitudes toward sustainability initiatives. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the independent variables “individuals` mindset”, “communicative framing”, “choice of policy type”, and “demographic factors” are related to the dependent variable “attitudes toward sustainability efforts”. The study was conducted as a quantitative cross-sectional study using a web-based survey. A total of 157 adults in Sweden participated, of whom 118 were women and 39 were men. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses. The results showed that individuals` mindset and their preferences for type of policy were associated with their attitudes toward sustainability efforts. The variables communicative framing, age and gender did not show any significant effects. The results are discussed in relation to previous research and possible explanations for the findings. The conclusion of the study is that individuals` mindsets and choice of policy type are central for shaping attitudes toward sustainability efforts. Future research in this area should therefore consider psychological aspects when designing sustainability initiatives, while also highlighting the need for continued research in the field. Klimatförändringarna utgör en av vår tids största samhällsutmaningar och kräver omfattande hållbarhetsarbete på flera nivåer. Trots en hög medvetenhet om klimatproblematiken varierar människors inställning och stöd till hållbarhetsinitiativ. Tidigare forskning pekar mot att både psykologiska faktorer, såsom individens mindset och kontextuella faktorer som exempelvis hur hållbarhetsarbeten kommuniceras kan påverka personers inställning till hållbarhetsarbeten. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om de oberoende variablerna ”individers mindset”, ”communicative framing”, ”val av åtgärdstyp” och ”demografiska faktorer” relaterar till den beroende variabeln ”inställning till hållbarhetsarbete”. Studien genfördes med en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie med hjälp av en webbaserad enkät. Totalt deltog 157 vuxna personer i Sverige varav 118 var kvinnor och 39 män. Datamaterialet analyserades genom deskriptiv statistik och multipla linjära regressionsanalyser. Resultatet visade att individers mindset och preferens för åtgärdstyp hade ett samband med deras inställning till hållbarhetsarbete. Variablerna ”communicative framing”, ålder och kön visade inte någon signifikant effekt. Resultaten diskuteras relaterande till tidigare forskning och möjliga förklaringar för resultatet. Slutsatsen av studien är att individers mindset och val av åtgärdstyp är centrala för hur inställning till hållbarhetsarbete är. Vidare arbeten inom området bör därmed beakta psykologiska aspekter vid utformning av hållbarhetsinsatser men lyfter också behovet av fortsatt forskning inom området.
Fundamental Investigations of Retention and Adsorption in LC with Emphasis on Charged Solutes
No full textReversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is the most widely used separation technique in pharmaceutical analysis. However, most classic drugs are weak acids or bases and therefore exist in charged forms under typical RPLC conditions, resulting in poor retention, peak tailing, and limited selectivity. These issues mainly arise because of heterogenous adsorption involving multiple interactions. This compilation thesis investigates and models the retention of charged and ionizable solutes under various chromatographic conditions, exploring their interactions with the stationary phase through adsorption studies to elucidate the underlying retention mechanisms. In Paper I, an analytical method was developed to quantify triethylamine and tributylamine in aqueous-organic mixtures by converting them to their uncharged volatile forms and measuring them by gas chromatography. This method was then used to obtain their adsorption isotherms on a C18 phase using a batch method. In Paper II, an electrostatic retention model and competitive adsorption model were developed to describe the pH-dependent retention and overloaded elution of charged and uncharged solutes in RPLC and mixed-mode chromatography. In Paper III, a mechanistic ion-pair RPLC model was developed by combining ion-pair reagent adsorption, surface potential, and surface ion-pair formation, enabling prediction of the retention of charged and ionizable analytes as a function of mobile phase pH and ion-pair reagent concentration. In Paper IV, adsorption energy distribution (AED) analysis was extended from single-component to two-component, enabling visualization of competitive adsorption in heterogeneous phase systems. Paper V identified key methodological limitations, including concentration range, choice of kernel function, and numerical convergence, while simultaneously demonstrating a clear relationship between peak tailing and AED. The mechanistic, adsorption-based approaches developed here can be applied to address peak tailing and limited selectivity in separations multivalent oligonucleotides and peptides, which represent a rapidly growing class of therapeutic. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is a widely used separation technique. However, it often provides inadequate retention and separation of charged and very polar solutes. These limitations arise from heterogeneous adsorption involving complex interactions between solutes and stationary phase surfaces. This thesis focuses on two main areas. The first is the development of mechanistic retention models for such solutes in mixed-mode chromatography (MMC) and ion-pair chromatography (IPC), with RPLC serving as a reference technique (Paper I–III). In both separation modes, retention is governed by electrostatic surface potential, arising from charged surface groups in MMC and from adsorption of ion-pair reagents in IPC, together with hydrophobic interactions. Competitive adsorption models are developed and applied in retention modelling and simulations of overloaded elution profiles. The second focus is adsorption heterogeneity and its impact on chromatographic behavior (Paper IV–V). Adsorption energy distribution (AED) analysis is extended to two-component systems to visualize competitive adsorption. For single-component AED, practical limitations and requirements are identified, and its roles in explaining peak tailing and retention mechanisms are established.Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is widely used for the separation of organic solutes in pharmaceutical analysis. However, many drugs are weak organic acids or bases and exist in charged forms under typical RPLC conditions, which may lead to poor separation, low retention, and peak tailing. This thesis develops mechanistic, adsorption-based models to describe the retention of charged and ionizable solutes under various chromatographic conditions, using adsorption studies to elucidate the underlying retention mechanisms. These approaches can be used to address separation challenges in multivalent oligonucleotides and peptides, a growing class of therapeutics. In Paper I, an analytical method was developed to quantify triethylamine and tributylamine in aqueous-organic mixtures by converting them to their uncharged volatile forms and measuring them by gas chromatography. This method was then used to obtain their adsorption isotherms on a RPLC stationary phase using a batch method. In Paper II, an electrostatic retention model and competitive adsorption model were developed to describe the pH-dependent retention and overloaded elution of charged and uncharged solutes in RPLC and mixed-mode chromatography. In Paper III, a mechanistic ion-pair RPLC model was developed by combining ion-pair reagent adsorption, surface potential, and surface ion-pair formation, enabling prediction of the retention of charged and ionizable solutes as a function of mobile phase pH and ion-pair reagent concentration. In Paper IV, adsorption energy distribution (AED) analysis was extended from single-component to two-component, enabling visualization of competitive adsorption. Paper V identified key methodological limitations, including concentration range, choice of kernel function, and numerical convergence, while simultaneously demonstrating a clear relationship between peak tailing and AED
Conceptualizing Phygital Work Experience (PH-WX) : A Framework for Enhanced Employee Well-Being
No full textHybrid work has turned employee experience into a phygital phenomenon, in which physical and digital experiences jointly shape well-being and organizational performance. Yet existing employee experience models often treat physical and digital domains as isolated, parallel, or only partially connected, offering limited insight into how their interaction produces coherence or tension in employees lived work experiences. This conceptual article develops the Phygital Work Experience (PH-WX) framework to theorize work experience within an integrated physical and digital environment. We introduce a dual-realm conceptualization of work experience as 4Ps (Person, People, Purpose, Place) and 4Ds (Design, Data, Device, Decision) and define phygital work congruence as the degree to which the 4Ps and 4Ds align to support coherent, meaningful, and psychologically supportive work. Drawing on employee well-being research, internal market orientation, sociotechnical systems, and paradox theory, we theorize how phygital congruence and misalignment in work experience emerge across three levels: micro (broader employee experience), meso (leadership, culture, HRM, infrastructure, ethical governance), and macro (economic, technological, socio-cultural, institutional forces). The paper contributes to macromarketing by offering a human-centric lens for analyzing and designing hybrid work experiences
Methodological insights from the inside : developing autistic-friendly interviewing in a group interview space
No full textBackground A neurodiversity-informed approach recognizes the perspectives and experiences of autistic people from an insider perspective, yet little attention has been given to adapting qualitative methods to account for the impact of cognition, sociality, and communication style of both interviewers and participants. The aim of this paper was to contribute to the development of autistic-friendly interviewing in a group interview space.Methods The paper is a collective reflexive pilot study, exploring experiences of autistic interviewer and autistic participants in group interviews. The method followed five steps, from deciding what type of interview questions to use to test them in the group interviews. An autistic interviewer conducted three group interviews, each with two to three autistic participants. Interviews and analyses were conducted in Swedish, and the data were then translated into English by the authors.Results The study identified key insights around four areas: participants' mixed views on the interview guide, the need to accommodate autistic processing styles, the importance of recognizing autistic forms of sociality, and the significance of conducting interviews within an autistic-friendly space that fosters comfort and understanding.Conclusion The paper outlines step by step the procedure of conducting group interviews with autistic people. We illustrate ways to capture the possibilities of autistic-friendly interviewing by working with-rather than against-autistic cognition, sociality, and communication styles in interviews with autistic people
“We ensure that children and young people have a place to be and something meaningful to do”. : Sustainable development in the Norwegian riding schools
No full textSport plays a significant role in promoting sustainable development at both local and global levels. However, many sports struggle to meet sustainability demands. To foster change and make sport more sustainable, it is essential to understand the factors that promote or hinder sustainability within specific activities. This study aims to explore how different stakeholders in Norwegian equestrian sports perceive and interpret sustainable development. The discussion is informed by the three dimensions of sustainability—social, ecological, and economic. The study is based on qualitative data collected through eighteen in—depth interviews with representatives from ten riding schools in Norway. Additionally, observations were conducted at three riding schools, and steering documents from the Norwegian Equestrian Federation were analyzed. Institutional theory provided the analytical framework for interpreting how established practices and norms influence sustainability efforts. Findings indicate that the social dimension of sustainable development is strongly emphasized in steering documents, interviews, and everyday practices at Norwegian riding schools. Elements of the economic and ecological dimensions are present but less prominent. Notably, ecological sustainability is not prioritized in the sector's agenda. The results suggest that the resilience of social structures and the pursuit of legitimacy within the equestrian sector create friction that hinders sustainability—related change. To advance sustainability in equestrian sports, it is necessary to address institutional change—examining how entrenched practices can be challenged and transformed over time.