Publikationer från Södertörns Högskola
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Engaging Youth in Urban Planning Discussions with Minecraft : Challenges and Opportunities
No full textThis study explores the potential of Minecraft as a game-based platform to engage youth, and particularly NEET youth, in urban planning discussions. Methodology: An exploratory qualitative case study was done in collaboration with a Swedish municipality, using observations of modded Minecraft play sessions, interviews, and ethnographic data from an internship program. Findings: Our data collection led us to identify four themes: (i) Minecraft Enables, the game supports visualization of planning ideas; (Ii) Minecraft Skills Enable, familiarity with the game facilitates participation; (iii) Preferences and Norms, personal ideals shape design choices; and (iv) Understanding Needs, limited awareness of urban functions constrains meaningful engagement. Originality: Unlike prior studies focusing on children or general youth, this research examines NEET youth as a hard-to-reach group and positions Minecraft as a boundary object for participatory planning rather than a formal planning tool. Contribution: This study contributes insight into the use of Minecraft in participatory planning with NEET youth, a rarely studied group in serious games literature and game-based approaches
“Det här är inget kvinnojobb” : Kvinnors erfarenheter av diskriminering i mansdominerade yrken och dess påverkan på arbetsmotivationen
No full textTidigare forskning visar att kvinnor i mansdominerade yrken ofta möter diskriminering, men detta behöver studeras närmare i deras vardagliga arbete i svensk kontext. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur kvinnor upplever diskriminering i mansdominerade yrkesmiljöer och belysa hur dessa erfarenheter påverkar deras arbetsmotivation. Materialet utgörs av 10 kvalitativa intervjuer med kvinnor inom bland annat fordonsindustrin, säkerhetsbranschen, lager, restaurang, psykiatri och resursskola. Studien utgick från en induktiv tematisk analys som resulterade i fyra centrala teman: inte tagen på allvar, sexistisk jargong och machokultur, könad arbetsdelning och bristande stöd, samt från viljestyrka till hopplöshet. Analysen visade att sexistiska kommentarer, sexualiserade blickar och nedlåtande bemötanden var vanligt förekommande och så pass normaliserade att de utgjorde en del av arbetsplatskulturen. Arbetsuppgifter fördelades ofta efter kön, där kvinnor “skyddades” från svårare moment eller uteslöts från centrala uppgifter trots att de var kvalificerade. Flera beskrev även att deras upplevelser ignorerades av chefer och HR, vilket i sin tur påverkade arbetsmotivationen negativt. Många gick från stark arbetsvilja till uppgivenhet, minskat engagemang eller tankar på att lämna yrket. Studien visar därmed hur diskriminering får konkreta negativa konsekvenser för kvinnors arbetsmotivation och utvecklingsmöjligheter
Does early childhood multilingualism lead to enhanced executive functioning in early adulthood? : A study examining inhibitory control (Stroop effect) in Swedish university students
No full textAims and objectives: The paper describes a study whose objective was to find whether there are any differences in inhibitory control measured with the Stroop test between Swedish early childhood (EC) monolingual and EC (bi-) multilingual university students in the language which is not their EC language and whether one can observe a relationship between the perceived proficiency in the subjects’ mother tongues and their Stroop Effect. Methodology: The analyses were conducted on a cohort of 105 students (41 EC monolinguals and 64 EC multilinguals) who took the Stroop test, the results of which (Stroop Effect) were compared for both the groups. A comparison was also made for multilinguals’ perceived proficiency in their mother tongues. Data and analysis: The data obtained via questionnaires and from a computerized version of the Stroop test were compared for EC monolinguals/EC multilinguals and evaluated statistically. Findings/conclusion: The results show no statistically significant difference in the inhibitory control measured by the Stroop test between the EC monolinguals and EC multilinguals. The only significant difference the analysis found between the groups is in reaction times, as the EC multilinguals reacted faster in both congruent and incongruent conditions. The analysis conducted among the EC multilinguals does not indicate any relationship between the perceived proficiency in their mother tongues and Stroop effect. Originality and implication: The findings contribute to a recent debate questioning cognitive early adulthood advantages of being an EC multilingual. Unlike the majority of other studies investigating inhibitory control, the Stroop test in this study was conducted in young adults and in the language (learnt at school and through extracurricular activities) in which all the students were on approximately the same proficiency level. The findings also bear relevance to future research on the relationship between inhibitory control and academic performance in young adults
Jakten på lärarsubjektet : Konstruktioner av lärarsubjektet i samband med diskurser om elevers ökade involvering i kriminella nätverk
No full textBarn och unga dras i allt större utsträckning in i kriminella nätverk, en utveckling som uppmärksammas inom såväl kriminalpolitiken som i medierna (Brottsförebyggande rådet 2023, s. 11). Denna utveckling har av vissa beskrivits som ett uttryck för att våld och kriminalitet i allt högre grad tar plats inom den svenska skolan. Skolan framställs därmed som en möjlig kontaktyta för kriminella nätverk, där rekrytering, narkotikahandel och förvaring av vapen förekommer (Uppdrag granskning 2025, 02:30). I detta sammanhang intar läraren en central position, då skolans omfattande samhällsuppdrag i stor utsträckning förverkligas genom lärarnas arbete (Englund 2012, s. 10). Trots att skolans ansvar ofta diskuteras saknas fördjupade studier som analyserar hur lärarsubjektet framställs i relation till elevers ökade involvering i kriminella nätverk. Studiens syfte är därför att undersöka hur lärarsubjektet konstrueras diskursivt i redaktionella medietexter och offentliga institutionstexter. Studien genomförs med en kvalitativ ansats med utgångspunkt i Faircloughs kritiska diskursanalys och hans tredimensionella analysmodell. Resultaten visar fyra återkommande diskurser kring lärarsubjektet. Läraren konstrueras som ett sårbart lärarsubjekt präglad av otrygghet i sin yrkesroll, samtidigt som ett förskjutet lärarsubjekt framträder där läraren förväntas hantera problem som traditionellt faller utanför lärarens ansvarsområde. Vidare framställs ett kompetent men begränsat lärarsubjekt, där professionell kunskap erkänns men handlingsutrymmet begränsas av bristande resurser, stöd och samverkan. Slutligen framträder ett oförberett lärarsubjekt, i de redaktionella medietexterna, där lärarutbildningen beskrivs som otillräcklig. Sammantaget konstrueras lärarsubjektet som ansvarsbärande men strukturellt begränsat, placerat i en spänning mellan höga förväntningar och begränsade möjligheter att agera
Social isolering och ensamhet bland äldre : Biståndshandläggares perspektiv på bidragande faktorer och insatser
No full textSyftet med studien var att undersöka vilka faktorer som bidrar till ensamhet och social isolering hos den äldre befolkningen. Fem biståndshandläggare intervjuades och det empiriska materialet analyserades med stöd av en tematisk analys. Vidare analyserades resultatet med stöd av aktivitetsteorin, Känsla av sammanhang (KASAM) och disrespansmodellen. Studiens resultat visar att de främsta faktorer som bidrar till äldres ensamhet och sociala isolering är fysiska och psykiska funktionsnedsättningar, en otrygg och otillgänglig miljö i den äldres närområde samt bristande sociala nätverk. Vidare visade studien att ensamhet och social isolering medför konsekvenser i form av psykisk ohälsa. Ett centralt fynd i studien var förebyggande arbete och skyddsfaktorer som visade att meningsfulla sociala relationer och deltagande i sociala aktiviteter spelade en viktig roll. Organiserade aktiviteter så som öppna mötesplatser och biståndsbedömda insatser kan bidra positivt till att motverka ensamhet och social isolering genom att ge äldre möjlighet att vara delaktiga i samhället. The aim of the study was to examine the factors that contribute to loneliness and social isolation among the older population. Five social service caseworkers were interviewed, and the empirical material was analysed using a thematic narrative analysis. The results were further analysed with the support of activity theory, sense of coherence (SOC) and the discrepancy model. The findings show that the main factors contributing to loneliness and social isolation among older adults are physical and psychological impairments, an unsafe and inaccessible environment in the older person’s immediate surroundings, and limited social networks. Furthermore, the study indicates that loneliness and social isolation lead to consequences in the form of mental ill health. A central finding of the study was the importance of preventive work and protective factors, showing that meaningful social relationships and participation in social activities play a crucial role. Organised activities, such as open meeting places and needs-assessed interventions, can contribute positively to reducing loneliness and social isolation by enabling older adults to participate in society
Sustainability in Managed Aquifer Recharge Projects : A Case Study of Three European Union Funded Projects
No full textManaged aquifer recharge (MAR) is presented as a water management approach that fits well within the broad sustainability agenda. Three European MAR projects' outcomes were analyzed to assess how these projects interpret sustainability. This article argues that MAR projects are pushed to a narrow interpretation of sustainability by funder requirements and the technical background of experts involved in MAR projects. This narrow interpretation is reinforced by the limited available resources for MAR projects. Pressing social and institutional issues are left unattended in these projects. This is likely to have implications forthe long-term operation and maintenance of these MAR projects
The importance of attachment for children's coping strategies : A quantitative study of parents' influence on children's ways of dealing with emotions, stress and challenges throughout life
No full textStudiens syfte är att undersöka sambandet mellan barns anknytningsstilar och deras användning av adaptiva copingstrategier vid hantering av stress och motgångar. Studien fokuserar på tre på anknytningsstilarna: trygg, undvikande och ambivalent och deras relation med copingstrategierna som handlar om att söka socialt stöd, söka stöd för känslor och positiv bedömning. Kön används som modererande variabel för att se om sambandet skiljer sig mellan pojkar och flickor. En linjär regressionsanalys kommer att användas baserad på data från Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) 2017/18. Resultaten indikerar att trygg och ambivalent anknytning är positivt associerade med samtliga copingstrategier med en svagare association till positiv bedömning. Undvikande anknytning är negativt associerad med samtliga variabler med en svagare association till positiv bedömning. Sambandet varierar även mellan könen, där familjens välstånd förklarar en liten men begränsad del av sambandet. Denna studie bidrar med ökad förståelse för hur anknytningsstilar påverkar barns copingstrategier och belyser vikten av ansvarsfulla och lyhörda föräldrar. Resultaten är relevant både i forskning och praktik, särskilt inom socialt arbete, skola och andra verksamheter som arbetar med barn.The aim of this study is to examine the association between children's attachment styles and their use of adaptive coping strategies when managing stress and adversity. The study focus on tree attachment styles: secure, avoidant and ambivalent and their relationships with coping strategies involving seeking social support, seeking support for feelings and positive appraisal. Gender is examined as a moderating variable to test whether the associations varies between boys and girls. Linear regression analysis is conducted using data from Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC) 2017/2018. The results indicate that secure and ambivalent attachment has a positive association with all coping strategies but a weaker association to positive appraisal. Avoidant attachment is negatively associated with all coping strategies with a weaker association to positive appraisal. The association also varies by gender, and family's affluence explains a small but limited part of the relationships. This study contributes to an increased understanding of how attachment styles influence children's coping strategies and highlights the importance of responsible and sensitive parenting. The findings are relevant for both research and practice, particularly within social work, school and other professions working with children.
Words - the source of magic : A linguistic study on Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
No full textAbstract The aim of this essay is to investigate how language is used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001), written by J.K. Rowling, through a linguistic study investigating the construction and characterization of the characters Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. The research aims to compare the characters’ linguistic profiles by analyzing both their direct speech and the narrative language used to describe them, which also includes observations and comments from other characters. The study also analyzes the use of speech acts, value words, tone, and attitude, with the results discussed with the help of Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory (1987). The findings indicate a clear difference in the language used to represent the two characters. Dumbledore’s speech and representation align with strategies of positive politeness and respect, whereas Snape’s representation is made through his frequent use of face-threatening acts (FTAs) and negative value words in both his own speech and the narrator’s description. The study discusses how the consistent difference in language portrays Dumbledore as a kind and highly respected authority figure, while portraying Snape as a character who is hostile and strongly disliked. The results demonstrate the power of linguistic choices in character development, reflecting and shaping the readers’ perception of the characters. The didactic application demonstrates how language analysis of character construction through the examination of politeness strategies, evaluative language, and stance supports the development of critical literacy by raising students’ awareness of how linguistic choices shape meaning, authority, and moral positioning
"När hemmet hotas så hotas hela livet" : En kvalitativ studie om yrkesverksammas utmaningar inom socialtjänsten i arbetet med att förebygga vräkningar
No full textFamilies with children are a vulnerable group that is disproportionately affected by evictions. One of the main reasons for these evictions is the housing shortage in the society that causes families with children ending up homeless. In such cases, the children who are evicted often live with relatives or are placed in accommodation arranged by the social services. The new circumstances lead to the children losing their social contacts and experiencing psychological stress that caused the social services to carry out eviction prevention work to reduce the evictions that occur in society. Therefore, this essay aims to explore the challenges and obstacles experienced by professionals in social services when they work against evictions of children and families with children. This study is a qualitative study and seven professionals in social services have been interviewed for this study. The interview material has been analyzed using a thematic analysis and two different theories. These theories are theory of street-level bureaucracy, social psychological theory of justice. By analyzing the interview material, we have come up with four themes: living conditions of families with children, expertness and professionalism, eviction prevention efforts and organizational conditions at work. These themes explore the living conditions and housing situation of families with children and how professionals in social services work with evictions of children and families with children. Furthermore, the themes also shed light on how organizational conditions affect the scope and professionalism of social workers and what challenges they experience. Thus, the study concludes that social services need rapid and long-term efforts to be able to carry out successful eviction prevention work. In addition, social services need to apply a strong child-centred perspective and more effective efforts that focus on client-oriented contact depending on each family’s unique situation