Publikationer från Karlstads Universitet
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Ektopic : A Phenomenology of Domestic VR Usage in Sweden
No full textOur everyday geographies are increasingly entangled with digital spaces, technological devices, and spatial media. One such device is the Virtual Reality Head Mounted Display (VR HMD), which in recent years has become accessible for casual users. As an emerging medium, VR plays with spatial perceptions of presence, movement, and sociality. Seeking to challenge the dominant conceptualization of immersion as the main spatiality of VR, this thesis makes empirical and theoretical contributions to the fields of digital geographies and VR research. First, exploring the empirically overlooked context of domestic VR usage through ethnographic methods, materials were collected in Swedish homes to inquire about what VR users’ everyday practices can tell us about experiencing digital places. Results show that presence in digital place through immersive media should not be reduced to sensations of being removed, nor the illusion of being virtually elsewhere. Rather, the physical environment and the sensuous connection with devices are instrumental for VR users being in place. Second, this thesis introduces Ektopic emplacement as a phenomenological theorization of being in place through immersive media. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of place theory and phenomenology, the spatialities of VR usage are analyzed as an emplaced and embodied practice of navigating, not the transition from a physical place into a virtual or digital one, but a being in places. Ektopic emplacement is explored as a mode of being in places with and through technological objects. Thus, rather than being here or there, immersed or not immersed, VR users’ being in place is dual, split, and shifting; simultaneously removed as well as remaining. The Ektopic is developed as a response to the fractured sense of place brought on by immersive media and considers the technological devices we utilize in our everyday life as objects that we inhabit and enjoy to condition our very being in the world.Our everyday geographies are increasingly entangled with digital spaces, technological devices, and spatial media. One such device is the Virtual Reality Head Mounted Display (VR HMD), which in recent years has become accessible for casual users. Through ethnographic methods, this thesis explores VR users’ everyday practices and experiences. Applying a theoretical framework of place theory and phenomenology, spatialities of VR usage are analyzed as emplaced and embodied practices of navigating, not a transition from a physical place into a virtual one, but a being in dual places. The results show that presence in digital place through immersive media should not be reduced to sensations of being removed, nor illusions of being virtually elsewhere. Rather, the physical environment and the sensuous connection with devices are instrumental for users’ sense of being in place. This thesis introduces Ektopic emplacement as a phenomenological theorization of being in place through immersive media. The Ektopic is explored as a mode of being in places with and through technological objects. The Ektopic is developed in response to the fractured sense of place brought on by immersive media and to consider the devices we use in our everyday life and enjoy to condition our being in the world
Estetiska vägar till flerspråkiga barns språkutveckling : En kvalitativ studie om förskollärares arbete med bild, drama och musik i språkutvecklande undervisning
No full textThe aim of this study is to examine how preschool teachers perceive and use aesthetic forms of expression in their work to support the language development of multilingual children. The study is based on a sociocultural perspective, where communication, interaction, and mediating tools are seen as central to learning and development. The study adopts a qualitative approach, and data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews with preschool teachers. The collected material was analyzed using thematic analysis. Where the collected data has been categorized according to themes identified during the analysis, and the material has also been connected to the theoretical framework, the sociocultureal perspective. The results show that preschool teachers view aesthetic forms of expression as important tools for supporting multilingual children’s language development, communication, and participation. Aesthetic forms of expression are described as tools that open up additional pathways for communication and participation when verbal language is insufficient. Furthermore, the findings indicate that working with aesthetic forms of expression can contribute to increased inclusion and a sense of security within the group of children. At the same time, organizational challenges that affect preschool teachers’ ability to work with aesthetic forms of expression in practice are highlighted. The study contributes knowledge about how aesthetic approaches can support multilingual children’s language development in preschool
Why am I not using more AAC? : A study about the different aspects that influence educators use of Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) in preschool settings
No full textI denna studie undersöks hur pedagoger resonerar och motiverar sitt användande av olika typer av alternativ och kompletterande kommunikation (AKK), specifikt fokus läggs vid tecken som alternativ och kompletterande kommunikation (TAKK) och bildstöd. Syftet med studien är att belysa de olika aspekter som påverkar pedagogers användande av AKK i förskolans verksamhet. För att undersöka detta har en enkät använts som distribuerats till pedagoger som är verksamma i förskolan. Teacher Agency har använts som teoretiskt ramverk för att på ett tillförlitligt sätt kunna synliggöra dessa aspekter, då teorin överväger personliga och organisatoriska perspektiv för att analysera pedagogers handlingsberedskap. Resultatet visar att både individuella aspekter så som attityd och inställning, samt organisatoriska aspekter, som tid, resurser och kompetens, har en påverkan på hur pedagoger använder AKK och med vem man använder det med. Slutsatsen av denna studie är att många pedagoger har en god inställning till AKK och förstår dess fördelar, men att det är andra aspekter som begränsar användandet. Det var dessa aspekter som studien ämnade att synliggöra för att sprida kunskap om aspekter som begränsar användandet av specialpedagogiska verktyg.This study examines how preschool educators reason about and motivates their use of different types of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), with a specific focus on sign-supported communication (TAKK) and image-supports. The aim of the study is to highlight the various factors that influence educators’ use of AAC in preschool settings. To examine this, a questionnaire was distributed to educators working in preschools. Teacher Agency was used as the theoretical framework in order to reliably illuminate these aspects, as the theory considers both personal and organizational perspectives when analyzing educators’ scope for agency. The results show that both individual aspects, such as attitudes and dispositions, and organizational aspects, such as time, resources, and competence, influence how educators use AAC and with whom it is used. The conclusion of the study is that many educators have a positive attitude toward AAC and understand its benefits, but that other aspects limit its use. It is these limiting aspects that the study seeks to make visible in order to spread knowledge about what constrains the use of special educational tools
Emerging technologies maturity in external audit : insights from auditors
No full text Purpose – The objective of this study is to examine audit firms’ maturity in adopting emerging technologies across three dimensions: people, process and technology, and to identify the factors that shape this maturity. Design/methodology/approach – Using a structured maturity assessment framework, the study adopted a quantitative approach, employing descriptive statistics, MANCOV A, MANOV A and univariate regressions on data from 166 experienced auditors. Findings – Findings reveal that audit firms are currently at a moderate level of maturity. However, Big Four firms are transitioning from moderate to advanced stages, while non-Big Four firms are progressing from early to moderate stages. Organizational support and the use of emerging technologies for complex audit evidence collection are associated with higher maturity levels. Furthermore, frequent use of emerging technologies for audit evidence collection and auditor satisfaction are positively correlated with maturity. Research limitations/implications – The study uses auditors’ perceptions of adoption, as captured through a survey, which may differ from actual adoption due to social desirability bias. Practical implications – The moderate level of emerging technology adoption, with non-Big Four firms below this level and Big Four firms transitioning toward the advanced stage, offers a nuanced understanding of the persistent adoption gap. The findings also emphasize the importance of formal, firm-wide policies and guidelines tailored to appropriate technologies that enhance adoption maturity and auditor satisfaction. Furthermore, it is crucial for audit firms to integrate and frequently use emerging technologies when performing complex procedures, such as analytical procedures and inspections, to progress toward maturity. These findings underscore the need for proactive regulatory guidance to advance technology adoption in auditing. Originality/value – This study is the first to explore the maturity level of emerging technology adoption in external audits using a structured assessment framework
Anadromy in Fragmented Rivers : Downstream Passage Challenges for Migrating Salmonids
No full textMigration is essential for anadromous salmonids; however, hydropower electric power (HEP) development has fragmented rivers and disrupted downstream passage for juveniles (smolts) and adults (kelts), delaying migration and increasing mortality. Although passage solutions can mitigate these impacts, their performance remains rarely evaluated, particularly in river systems with multiple barriers. This thesis assessed downstream passage performance in fragmented rivers for smolts and kelts, identified factors influencing passage, and evaluated mitigation effectiveness. Acoustic telemetry quantified movement patterns, route choice, delays, migration speeds, passage and loss rates in rivers containing multiple HEPs across large- and small-scale systems. Study sites included HEPs with and without downstream passage solutions and free-flowing river sections. Free-flowing sections exhibited some of the highest passage rates, and HEP removal more than doubled migration speeds. Passage losses and reduced migration speeds were highest in lentic habitats and HEP sections, identifying these areas as bottlenecks. In contrast, HEPs with dedicated downstream passage solutions showed improved performance, with faster migration speeds and lower loss rates. Water temperature, diel period, body size, and river discharge influenced smolt passage success, with flow velocity strongly associated with movement behavior. Control release groups identifying cumulative barriers possibly influence passage speeds, and in-river overwintering by kelts influenced passage success. Overall, while passage efficiency can be high at individual HEPs, river-scale migration remains constrained by interacting natural and anthropogenic factors. Downstream passage solutions improved connectivity and reduced delays, highlighting the importance of site-specific mitigation measures for sustaining anadromous salmonid populations in fragmented rivers.Migration is essential for anadromous salmonids, but hydropower (HEP) development has fragmented rivers and disrupted downstream passage for smolts and kelts. Passage solutions can mitigate these impacts, but their performance remains rarely evaluated, particularly in multi-barrier systems. This thesis assessed downstream passage performance in fragmented rivers and evaluated mitigation effectiveness using acoustic telemetry to quantify movement patterns, speeds, and passage/loss rates across rivers with multiple HEPs, including sites with/without passage solutions and free-flowing sections. Free-flowing sections showed high passage success, and HEP removal more than doubled migration speeds. Passage losses and reduced speeds were greatest in lentic habitats and HEP sections, identifying these areas as bottlenecks. In contrast, HEPs with dedicated downstream passage solutions showed improved performance, with faster speeds and higher passage success. Biotic and abiotic factors influenced passage success, and cumulative barriers possibly influenced passage speeds. Overall, while passage efficiency can be high at individual HEPs, river-scale migration is constrained by interacting natural and anthropogenic factors, highlighting the importance of site-specific mitigation measures
Synchrotron X-ray diffraction for carbide evolution during tempering of laser powder bed fusion tool steel
No full textIn pursuit of enhancing the mechanical properties of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF)-produced hot work tool steels, this study investigates the evolution of carbides from the as-built state to the quenched and tempered conditions of a modified H13 steel. The heat treatment involved austenitization and quenching, followed by tempering at two temperatures: 600 °C and 625 °C. To monitor microstructural changes over time, tempering durations of 10, 20, 40, 80, 120, 130, 140, 160, 200, and 240 min were applied at both temperatures. Subsequently, the samples underwent synchrotron radiation analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and hardness testing. The results revealed notable variations in carbide fractions, martensite tetragonality, and micro-strain depending on tempering time and temperature. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) is shown to effectively track carbide evolution in L-PBF tool steels which provides guidance for optimizing post-process heat treatment
Neurocognitive function in schizophrenia spectrum disorders : A 20-year prospective study of a community sample
No full textLongitudinal studies of neurocognition in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) usually follow relatively young first-episode patients across several years. Comparatively little is known about the neurocognitive trajectory of samples also consisting of older patients. This is a 20-year follow-up study of participants who performed the baseline assessment at different ages and utilizes data from the Swedish Clinical Long-Term Psychosis Study (CLIPS). At baseline, 61 SSD patients were included and available for clinical assessment after 20 years. Of these, 28 performed neurocognitive assessment at both baseline and 20 years later. The test results from this group were used for this study. After 20 years, the participants exhibited significantly worsening cognitive flexibility, verbal learning, verbal retention memory, and verbal intellectual function compared to baseline. All the statistically significant differences from baseline to follow-up had large effect sizes. The other cognitive domains showed no statistically significant changes from baseline for either group. We conclude that although the overall picture was one of neurocognitive stability across 20 years, our participants showed signs of accelerated ageing in the verbal domain specifically
Legal protection of agricultural land : A study of the balance of interests between the preservation of agricultural land and solar power plants
No full textIntresseavvägningen som ska göras när en solcellsanläggning planeras att uppföras på brukningsvärd jordbruksmark tar avstamp i bestämmelsen om jordbruksmarkens skydd, 3 kap. 4 § 2 st. MB. Det är väsentligt att det finns ett långtgående skydd som tryggar jordbruksmarken som resurs. För att kunna producera livsmedel måste det finnas tillgång till jordbruksmark. Förnybar energi är av vikt för att uppnå hållbar utveckling. Det innebär att solceller också är samhällsviktiga. Således finns det en tydlig intressekonflikt mellan att bevara jordbruksmarken för framtiden och behovet av förnybar energiomställning. Syftet med uppsatsen är dels att undersöka den intresseavvägning som uppstår när solcellsanläggningar ska etableras på jordbruksmark, dels analysera hur 3 kap. 4 § 2 st. MB begränsar utrymmet att ta jordbruksmark i anspråk. Inledningsvis ges en faktabaserad bakgrund om jordbruksmarkens innebörd och värden samt kopplingen till livsmedelsförsörjning och livsmedelsberedskap. Vidare redogörs översiktligt för hållbar utveckling, förnybar energi och solcellens funktion. Det faktabaserade kapitlet är tänkt att ge nödvändig fakta till läsaren som denne kan ta med sig till resterande delar. Därefter presenteras relevanta kapitel och bestämmelser i miljöbalken, där särskilt fokus ägnas 3 kap. 4 § 2 st. MB. För att problematisera intresseavvägningen mellan brukningsvärd jordbruksmark och solcellsanläggningar används praxis från Mark- och miljööverdomstolen (MÖD). Den praxis som används är relativt utförligt beskriven och tar plats i ett eget kapitel. Uppsatsens analys visar att prövningen av huruvida jordbruksmark får tas i anspråk för uppförande av solcellsanläggningar görs i flera led. Bestämmelsen i 3 kap. 4 § 2 st. MB ställer upp flera villkor som måste vara uppfyllda för att en solcellsanläggning ska kunna tillåtas. Det som MÖD bedömer är om solcellsanläggningen innebär ändrad markanvändning och varaktigt ianspråktagande, om jordbruksmarken är brukningsvärd, om ett väsentligt samhällsintresse tillgodoses, om annan mark än jordbruksmark är mer lämplig för anläggningen och till sist om en solcellsanläggning är mest lämplig på marken. MÖD har i praxis konstaterat att solcellsanläggningar tillgodoser ett väsentligt samhällsintresse, men att solcellsanläggningar i regel förbjuds att uppföras. MÖD ställer krav på att alternativa lokaliseringar ska vara tillräckligt utredda, vilket innebär att exploatörens lokaliseringsutredning oftast är det som avgör om solcellsanläggningen får tillåtelse eller förbud. Sammantaget är skyddet för jordbruksmark tämligen starkt och solcellsanläggningar på jordbruksmark är ett undantag snarare än regel.
Students’ attitudes towards proof : A survey of secondary school students’ attitudes towards proof in mathematics
No full textSustainability and regulatory compliance in management control systems : insights from Germany's Supply Chain Due Diligence Act
No full textPurposeThis study aims to investigate how multinational corporations (MNCs) adapt their management control systems (MCSs) to comply with Germany's Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and address human rights and environmental risks in global supply chains.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative analysis of interviews with 14 professionals from 11 German-based MNCs was conducted using hybrid thematic coding informed by Malmi and Brown's (2008) MCS framework, Gond et al.'s (2012) sustainability integration mechanisms and institutional and contingency theories.FindingsDifferent control types align with distinct integration mechanisms, and the study introduces adaptation logic to explain variation in how firms implement due diligence obligations across control types. Firms responded to the LkSG through both uniform and hybrid adaptation logics, shaped by institutional pressures and organizational contingencies.Practical implicationsThe findings offer insights for sustainability and compliance managers on reconfiguring MCSs to strengthen due diligence, and for policymakers on designing clear and feasible regulatory frameworks that also support suppliers, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) along the supply chain.Social implicationsThe study underscores how regulatory compliance and organizational adaptation shape the realization of human rights and environmental outcomes in global supply chains.Originality/valueThe study advances MC research by analyzing how control systems are reconfigured for legally binding sustainability obligations. It offers a theoretical synthesis linking control types, integration pathways and adaptation logic, and clarifies how MCSs can enable corporate contributions to sustainable development under binding sustainability regulations