Publikationer från Stockholms universitet
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Green Convictions: What Moves People to Volunteer for the Environment in Sweden? : Exploring the Motivations and Image of Environmental Voluntary Work in Sweden
No full textThis master’s thesis explores the motivations behind environmental volunteering in Sweden. The study addresses two central research questions: (1) What are the main motivating factors for people in Sweden to engage in voluntary environmental work? and (2) How do Swedish environmental volunteers perceive the civic and environmental impact of their engagement, and what role does national civic culture play in shaping these views? The study situates itself within environmental sociology and volunteer motivation research, with a focus on the Swedish civic context. Drawing on the Self-Determination Theory and the Functional Approach to Volunteering, this thesis investigates both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations using a quantitative methodology. A digital survey was distributed in a snowball-method to Swedish voluntary environmental organisations, yielding 75 responses. The results show that environmental concern, emotional factors such as climate fear, and a desire to make a difference are key drivers. Most volunteers believe their work is meaningful, though many also express a sense of urgency or inadequacy. Generational differences were observed in motivations and attitudes toward compensation. The thesis concludes that intrinsic, value-driven motivations dominate and that Swedish environmental volunteers strongly identify with their role despite perceived political inaction
Ethical Concerns of AI Implementation in Computer Based Mental Healthcare
No full textAs the issues surrounding what has come to be referred to as the “global mental health pandemic” only seem to increase in severity for every passing year, medical researchers and practitioners are constantly looking to alleviate the situation by levying modern advancements in technology and medical knowledge. The promise of increased efficiency and enhanced predictive and diagnostic capabilities of medical systems powered by artificial intelligence is understandably seen as incredibly promising, enabling streamlined treatments and more accurate diagnoses for complex cases. However, the many positives of these systems bring with them a suite of very real and present negatives, not least of all concerns regarding the ethics of relinquishing one’s mental health to the mercy of a machine. This thesis is a systematic qualitative literature review, and utilizes the research question “What are the ethical considerations and potential risks associated with using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to assess and treat mental health conditions in modern mental healthcare?” as an analytical foci aimed at facilitating a closing of the current knowledge gap related to how these ethical considerations influence the usage and implementation of AI-powered medical systems. Through purposive sampling through analysis of abstracts and pertinent chapters in contemporary research literature in the medical field, 19 articles and publications were studied through thematic analysis to yield the primary study results. The nascence of most derivative AI technologies currently employed in the field of mental healthcare led to the most notable ethical considerations lacking significant distinction from the ethical considerations of AI in general terms, such as inherent bias and privacy concerns, although some medically specific particularities were discovered as well
Alltid öppet - men för vem? Äldres erfarenheter och perspektiv av Alltid öppets e-vårdstjänst
No full textDenna studie ämnar att undersöka äldre personers upplevelser av Alltid öppets hemsida samt hur tillfredsställande de upplever användningen är. Studien utgår från två frågeställningar: Vilka upplevelser har äldre personer (65-85 år) när det kommer till användbarhet och tillgänglighet rörande Alltid öppets webbplats? och Hur tillfredsställande upplever äldre personer (65-85 år) interaktionen vid användandet av Alltid öppets webbplats?. Tidigare studier och forskning visar att äldre personer har lägre digital literacy eller digital kompetens vilket gör att det uppstår en digital klyfta mellan de som kan eller inte kan navigera sig fram i det ständigt växande digitala samhället. Inom EU och Sverige finns det även lagar och riktlinjer som skall vara behjälpliga och reglera att appar och hemsidor skall vara tillgängliga för alla. Därför ansågs det speciellt intressant att göra en sådan här typ av studie för att få höra från den åldersgrupp som kan uppleva svårigheter inom det digitala och hur det går i användningen av en stor e-hälsoapplikation. För att utforska detta användes en kombination av kvalitativa och kvantitativa metoder där data från nio deltagare samlades in med hjälp av semi-strukturerade intervjuer, användartest samt en SUS-enkät. Analysen utfördes med en induktiv och semantisk ansats där en tematisk analys skapade fyra teman och 18 koder. Resultaten från SUS-enkäten sammanställdes i en tabell och medelvärdet samt median räknades ut. Utifrån analysen och sammanställningen av SUSenkäten framgick det att en majoritet av deltagarna har svårigheter i användandet av Alltid öppet, då det inte upplevs tillfredsställande vilket visar sig i både kvantitativa- och kvalitativa resultat. Den digitala kompetens visade sig även vara betydande för hur väl deltagarna upplevde, men också hur väl de navigerade sig i Alltid öppet. Man kunde även urskilja från deltagarna att det fanns ett visst motstånd mot digitaliseringen gällande vård, vilket ofta relaterade till bristen på “mänsklig” och “riktig” vårdkontakt. Utifrån resultaten finns det indikationer på att Alltid öppet har utvecklingspotential både för att nå fram till målgruppen bättre, men även för att uppnå de lagar och krav som finns för att definieras som användbart och tillgängligt av alla.This study aims to investigate older people’s experiences of Alltid öppets website and how satisfactory they find the use to be. The study is based on two problem statements: What experiences do older people (65-85 years old) have when it comes to usability and accessibility regarding the Alltid öppets website? and How satisfactory do older people (65-85 years old) experience the interaction when using the Alltid öppet website?. Previous studies and research show that older people have lower digital literacy or digital competence, which means that a digital divide exists between those who can and cannot navigate their way in the ever-growing digital society. Within the EU and Sweden, there are also laws and guidelines that are intended to be helpful and regulate that apps and websites should be accessible to everyone. Therefore, it was considered particularly interesting to conduct this type of study to hear from the age group that may experience difficulties in the digital world and how it goes in the use of a large e-health application. To explore this, a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used, where data from nine participants was collected using semi-structured interviews, user tests and a SUS survey. The analysis was carried out with an inductive and semantic thematic analysis which created four themes and 18 codes. The results from the SUS survey were compiled in a table and the average value and median was calculated. Based on the analysis and compilation of the SUS survey, it emerged that the majority of participants have difficulties in using Alltid öppet as it is not perceived as satisfactory, which is evident in both the quantitative and qualitative results. Digital competence also proved to be significant for how well the participants experienced but also how well they navigated in Alltid öppet. It was also possible to discern from the participants that there was a certain resistance to digitalization regarding care, which was often related to the lack of “human” and “real” care contact. Based on the results, there are indications that Alltid öppet has room for development both to reach the target group but also to achieve laws and requirements to be defined as accessible and usable for everyone
The role of physical environment in crime prevention and the promotion of safety
No full textStudien undersöker relationen mellan byggd miljö och brottsförebyggande insatser genom att undersöka hur olika kommuner i Västra Götalandsregionen arbetar med situationell prevention som brottsförebyggande insats. Vidare undersöks om implementeringen av lag (2023:196) om kommuners ansvar för brottsförebyggande arbete har haft en inverkan på hur kommunerna arbetar brottsförebyggande och om den har påverkat hur de arbetar med situationell prevention. Studien baseras på en kvalitativ forskningsdesign där det insamlade materialet baseras på intervjuer som har hållits med representanter från åtta olika kommuner i Västra Götalandsregionen och kompletteras med med en dokumentanalys av kommunala åtgärdsplaner som inkommit från 20 kommuner i regionen. Analysen utgår från teorier om Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), institutionell teori samt begreppen "situationell prevention", "gestaltad livsmiljö" och "the shapers". Resultatet visar att det finns betydande skillnader mellan hur kommuner arbetar med situationell prevention, där en tydlig koppling kan göras till kommuntyp, behov, utmaningar, resurstillgång och organisatorisk struktur. Majoriteten av kommunerna strävar efter att bättre integrera det brottsförebyggande- och trygghetsperspektivet i planprocessen, men graden av konkret implementering varierar. Den nya lagen om kommuners ansvar för brottsförebyggande åtgärder har skapat tydligare ramar och krav på samverkan, men har ännu inte fullt ut förändrat arbetssätt eller styrdokument. Studien visar också att det finns ett ökat behov av att förstärka kopplingen mellan fysisk planering och trygghet samt att utveckla kunskap och rutiner för att integrera det brottsförebyggande perspektivet i tidiga skeden av planprocessen
Ink and Impact : A Transitivity Analysis of News Reporting on the First Hydrogen Bomb
No full textI föreliggande uppsats undersöks hur den första vätebomben omtalas i ett svenskt nyhetsmedialt sammanhang i samband med den första vätebombsprovsprängningen, genomförd av USA år 1952. En bärande utgångspunkt för studien är tidigare forskning om nukespeak, som synliggör hur språkliga strategier i kärnvapendiskursen kan bidra till att normalisera, försköna eller dölja kärnvapnens destruktiva innebörd. Med en teoretisk och metodologisk förankring i systemisk-funktionell grammatik (SFG) genomförs en transitivitetsanalys av 42 nyhetsartiklar från fyra svenska dagstidningar: Aftonbladet, Arbetet, Dagens Nyheter och Svenska Dagbladet. Materialet omfattar 365 satser i vilka vätebomben ingår. Analysen visar att materiella och relationella processer är de mest frekvent förekommande processtyperna i materialet, vilket tyder på en språklig fokusering på handlingar, fysiska konsekvenser och tillstånd. Detta återspeglar hur vätebombens effekter tematiseras i nyhetsdiskursen: antingen genom konkreta händelseförlopp eller genom beskrivningar av deras funktion och egenskaper. Analysen påvisar därutöver en diskursiv tendens att avpersonalisera vätebombens användning. Genom passivkonstruktioner, implicita aktörer och teknologisering separeras bombens verkan från människans ansvar och påverkan. Bomben framstår därmed ofta som ett självverkande fenomen snarare än ett resultat av politiska beslut. Studien visar därigenom hur nyhetsdiskursen bidrar till att forma allmänhetens förståelse av kärnvapen
From Retelling to Myth - How Herobrine influenced the experiences of Minecraft players
No full textThis thesis investigates the phenomenon that player retellings can evolve into myths within sandbox games, using the Herobrine myth in Minecraft as a case. In games lacking a predefined narrative, such as Minecraft, players can construct meaning through retellings of their experiences. This research explores how the Herobrine myth - originating from a 2010 forum post - has taken on meaning through retellings and influenced player experiences. Using a phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with ten players who engaged with Minecraft during Herobrine’s peak in cultural relevance (2010–2013). Thematic analysis of the interview data resulted in four core themes. The theme Presence was about the perception of Herobrine as part of the game world. Gameplay captured changes in the gameplay atmosphere and behavior. Community showed how the myth gained meaning through social and online interaction. Lastly, Nostalgia presented players' retrospective reinterpretation and complex emotional attachment to the myth. The findings suggest that in sandbox games, player-created myths can gain symbolic significance and directly influence the gameplay experience. Furthermore, player-created myths can shape how players relate to the game long-term, regardless of their belief in the myth. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of player agency in meaning-making and show that a simple retelling can leave a lasting mark on the game it stems from
Alberto Methol Ferré y el Pensamiento Global Latinoamericano
No full textAlberto Methol Ferré (1929-2009) fue un pensandor que ha dejado una obra multifacética, en la que combinó historia, filosofía y geopolítica. Autor de dos clásicos del ensayo uruguyo. La crisis del uruguay y el Imperio británico (Buenos Aires, 1959) y El Uruguay como Problema (Montevideo, 1967), a partir de su conversión al catolicismo trabajó también sobre la historia y actualidad en la Iglesia en América Latina, en obras como Las corrientes religiosas en el Uruguay (Montevideo, 1969), Puebla: proceso y tensiones (1979), Il Risorgimiento Católico Latinoamericano (Bolonia, 1983), La Iglesia en la historia de Latinoamérica (1987). si bien estos libros expresan tempranamente su interés en encuadrar cualquier asunto en una perspectiva global, ésta va a expresarse más empliamente en Los estados continentales y el Mercosur (Montevideo, 2013, aunque su elaboración data de 1999), Perón y la alianza argentino-brasileña (Córdoba, Arg. 2000) y la América Latina del siglo XXI (Buenos Aires, 2006)
Gender, Game and Guns : Gendered perceptions and lived experiences of militarised conservation in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
No full textIn response to rising wildlife crime, conservation efforts have become increasingly militarised by adopting paramilitary practices, training and personnel to counter poaching activities. Historically, these have been justified and shaped by masculinist perspectives. However, there have been increasing international calls to diversify conservation practices to improve the effectiveness of conservation itself. Despite the growing attention, gendered dynamics of militarised conservation remain largely understudied. A deeper understanding of this nexus is essential for advancing gender equality and ultimately encouraging transformative change towards global sustainability. Therefore, this study unpacks the lived experiences and subjective perceptions of conservationists within militarised conservation through empirical research in South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park. The study employs interview-based and photo-informed qualitative research with both women and men to explore the gendered performances, experiences and challenges of working in militarised conservation. The results demonstrate how, in practice, performances of masculinity and militarisation are deeply intertwined and reinforce each other, which risks narrowing both participation in and possibilities of conservation. While intended to protect biodiversity under threat, militarised approaches deepen existing gendered inequalities and exacerbate violent wildlife conflict at the expense of nature and people alike. The findings highlight the social costs of militarised conservation and call for more inclusive practices that allow for diverse perspectives, knowledge and identities to thrive. This implies that for conservation policy and practice, alternative conservation approaches should be considered to ultimately improve overall biodiversity conservation outcomes and long-run sustainable development
Literature as Resistance: Teaching Gender Performativity through The Hunger Games in the Classroom.
No full textThis essay examines how gender performativity is presented in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, with focus on the characters Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and Cinna. Focusing on Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity, the essay argues that these characters perform gender in ways that resist or subvert the Capitol’s norms. In Panem, the Capitol promotes strict ideas about gender through stylized appearances, and performance-based roles. It rewards tributes who embody passive femininity or dominant masculinity, using emotional control, beauty, and aggression as tools of power. Katniss performs nurturing femininity as resistance, Peeta redefines masculinity through vulnerability, and Cinna manipulates fashion to undermine the Capitol’s control. By portraying characters who are against these scripted roles, the novel explores how identity can be performed strategically under oppression. This also resonates with young readers who may face similar pressures to conform to narrow gender expectations in their own lives. Through a close reading of key scenes, this essay explores how traits that are typically associated with masculinity and femininity are performed identities shaped by societal expectations. These performances reflect power structures within the dystopian society. The second part of this essay centers on the pedagogical approach to teaching The Hunger Games to year 9 students conducted by the reader-response theory, critical thinking, and goals outlined in Skolverket. A teaching unit plan is presented in the Appendix, which demonstrates how The Hunger Games can be used to engage students through reader-response journals, book circles, and scaffolded discussions. These activities prompt students to reflect on how characters perform gender, respond to power structures, and challenge societal expectations connecting literary analysis to their own lived experiences. The essay argues that teaching gender performativity through dystopian literature promotes critical thinking that requires students to reflect on their experiences and assumptions
Digital Emotions : Interpreting Feeling in Online Communication
No full textAs Rodney H. Jones states, "language is an imperfect tool for the precise expression of many things we think and feel," (2012, p 3) highlighting the inherent challenges of conveying emotions through language alone. Historically, these limitations have led to the emergence of alternative modes of emotional expression; from typed cues in telegraph messages (e.g. [laughter]) to modern emojis. The selection of the “tears of joy” emoji as Oxford Dictionaries’ Word of the Year in 2015 reflects the increasing recognition of emojis as a communicative system in their own right. While previous research has explored how such elements function in digital settings, many studies have focused on specific platforms or emotional expressions, such as typed laughter-derived expressions (TLDEs). This study aims to expand on existing works by exploring how speakers of English as an additional language interpret and convey emotions across diverse online platforms and emotional contexts. Through six focus group interviews with ten participants (40% women, 60% men), aged 21-56 and fluent in English despite diverse linguistic backgrounds, the study investigates both perceived and actual usage of digital emotion representation. The two guiding research questions are: (1) How do individuals perceive the digital representation of emotions based on factors such as age, formality and platform? (2) How do individuals represent emotions digitally across different social media platforms? Grounded in Mediated Discourse Analysis and Qualitative Content Analysis, the study uses a custom-designed categorisation scheme to categorise emoji meanings, as well as a five-step analytical method based on MDA. The findings highlight the significance of illocutionary force in emoji interpretation – emphasising that meaning is shaped less by visual design and more by communicative intent and context. While platform-specific tools and restrictions were acknowledged as influencing emotional expression, participants considered relational dynamics, generational factors, and formality levels to be more decisive. The results further reveal that emoji meanings are not fixed but fluid, often varying greatly depending on context. For instance, certain emojis such as "slightly smiling face" and "thumbs up" displayed a wide range of interpretations, illustrating the ambiguity inherent in digital emotional cues. This study contributes to the growing field of digital communication by demonstrating how representations of digital emotions vary in online environments. The categorisation scheme developed offers a flexible framework for future research on emoji categorisation and meaning. While based on a small sample, the participants’ diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds provide rich insights, suggesting the value of further research with broader multilingual representation.