Göteborgs universitets publikationer - e-publicering och e-arkiv
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Balancing Fun and Function: Exploring Game Design Features for Long-Term Engagement in Anxiety-Relief Serious Games
No full textAnxiety disorders are one of the most common psychological disorders, yet many people who are experiencing anxiety-related symptoms often remain undetected and untreated. To address this issue, more accessible and engaging solutions, such as serious games, are needed. This thesis explores how psychological practices for treating anxiety can be integrated with game design features that promote replayability without compromising therapeutic value. Various established therapeutic methods and game design features have been explored in order to create an effective mobile prototype. The final prototype featured three mini-games based on breathing exercises, relaxation-based exercises, and attention bias modification. It also incorporated additional features such as an in-game store, a streak system, a scoreboard and more to enhance user engagement. A playtest with 22 people was conducted to evaluate the prototype’s effectiveness in reducing anxiety and promoting continued use. Results indicated a reduction in self-reported anxiety and stress levels, and high user interest in replaying the prototype. Feedback from the testers highlighted the importance of customisation, as responses to the mini-games varied depending on individual preferences. The findings suggest that customisation and a diverse range of therapeutic content are key to supporting both anxiety relief and user engagement. Further research is needed to assess the prototype’s long-term impact
”Är det någon som har en katt?” –En kvalitativ intervjustudie som ämnar undersöka hur lärare på anpassade gymnasieskolan arbetar för att befästa kunskapen i elevernas långtidsminne.
No full textThis study is the first in it’s field and aims to investigates how religious education (RE) teachers
within special education settings plan and structure their instruction to support students with
intellectual disabilities in understanding and retaining abstract content. Given the cognitively
demanding nature of religious education, the study focuses on pedagogical strategies aimed at
facilitating comprehension and long-term memory consolidation. Empirical data were collected
through six semi-structured digital interviews with seven RE teachers working with students
aged 16–20 in the Swedish special education system. Thematic analysis was employed, guided
by the theoretical framework of Cognitive Load Theory (CLT). CLT offers pedagogical
principles for managing the mental effort required during learning, with the aim of enhancing
knowledge retention. The findings suggest that while teachers occasionally apply strategies
consistent with CLT, such approaches are often used reactively when initial instruction proves
ineffective. The study indicates that instruction grounded in students' prior experiences from
the outset may increase the likelihood of successful knowledge transfer to long-term memory.
However, teachers frequently encounter a pedagogical dilemma, needing to balance the
demands of academic content with the social and cognitive needs of their students
Kalibrerad för prestation. En kvantitativ studie om kroppskompositionens påverkan på fysiska tester hos juniorishockeyspelare
No full textKandidatuppsats 15 hp. Kurs: IKG376. VT 2025. Program: Sports Coaching. Huvudområde: Idrottsvetenskap.Handledare: Jonatan Jungmalm. Examinator: Andreas Caspers.Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka samband mellan kroppskomposition och
uthållighetstest på is samt stående längdhopp hos kvinnliga och manliga juniorishockeyspelare.
Metod: Studien är en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie där 28 ishockeyspelare från en elitverksamhet
deltog, varav 15 kvinnor och 13 män. Deras ålder var från 15–19 år, med
träningserfarenhet i elitmiljö på 0–3 år. En DXA-mätning jämfördes med stående
längdhopp på barmark och uthållighetstest på is. Spearmans
rangkorrelationskoefficient och multipel linjär regressionsanalys tillämpades och
genomfördes i SPSS Statistics 29.0.0.0.
Resultat: Sambandet mellan total fettmassa och total åktid på is visade ett svagt till måttligt
samband med tydligare fördel för männen (r=0,41) jämfört med kvinnorna (r=0,31).
Fettfri massa i nedre extremitet hade däremot ett relativt likvärdigt negativt samband
för kvinnor (r=-0,42) som för männen (r=-0,38). För stående längd såg resultatet
annorlunda ut där total fettmassa för kvinnorna hade starkare samband (r=-0,42)
jämfört med män (r=0,12). Detsamma gäller för fettfri massa i nedre extremitet där
kvinnor (r=0,38) hade starkare samband än män (r=0,15). Inga av resultaten är
statistiskt signifikanta. Förklaringsgraden för uthållighetstest på is uppgavs till ett
justerat R² på 48,2% jämfört med stående längdhopp där ett justerat R² var 86,4%.
Båda modellerna är statistiskt signifikanta som helhet, men ingen enskild oberoende
variabel var signifikant förutom kön som var signifikant i stående längdhopp (p <,001).
Slutsats: Studien har visat att det finns svagt till måttligt samband för båda könen mellan både
total fettmassa och fettfri massa i nedre extremitet i relation till uthållighetstest på is.
Däremot verkar enbart kvinnor ha ett svagt till måttligt samband mellan
kroppskomposition och stående längdhopp, något som var näst intill obefintligt hos
männen. Detta ger praktiska implikationer för tränare aktiva inom ishockey då
överförbarheten mellan prestation på barmark till is bör vara en central komponent.
Med tanke på att det verkade vara en lägre förklaringsgrad mellan de oberoende
variablerna och uthållighetstestet på is kan det framgå att det finns andra faktorer som
en tränare bör ta hänsyn till. Ett exempel är att utveckla aerob förmåga och
skridskoteknik
Decoding Glycosylation Signatures of Viral Envelope Proteins: From Structural Analysis to Vaccine Development Strategies
No full textGlycoproteins incorporated into the viral envelope are critical for virus-host
interactions as they mediate viral attachment to cells as well as membrane
fusion between the cellular and viral membranes, allowing viral entry into the
cell. The exposure of glycoproteins on viral surfaces makes them key targets
for the immune system. Despite the biological significance of viral
glycoproteins, there is a lack of information regarding their glycan
distribution, composition, and immunomodulatory properties. This thesis
investigates the glycoprofile of selected viral glycoproteins and the impact of
the glycosylation on antibody reactivity and adaptive immune activation,
using native and recombinant glycoproteins from tick-borne encephalitis virus
(TBEV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),
varicella zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).
We characterized the glycosylation sites and glycoform distribution of both
N-linked and O-linked glycans on a key viral envelope glycoprotein from each
virus studied. This included the identification of novel O-linked glycans and
confirmation of previously reported O- and N-linked glycans. In addition, we
analysed convalescent serum samples from previously infected patients to
assess antibody reactivity toward glycoproteins with varying glycan profiles,
revealing individual differences in B-cell epitope recognition patterns. Lastly
immunization with a recombinant form of glycoprotein G from HSV-2 (mgG-
2) showed that its glycans are facilitating protection against neuronal spread
and severe disease, and that the recombinant viral glycoprotein show potential
as a vaccine candidate due to the ability to elicit strong B- and T-cell
responses. To verify this finding, we utilized a murine genital challenge model
and showed that neuronal spread of HSV-2 is hampered in a mgG-2 deficient
HSV-2 strain.
The data presented in this thesis emphasizes that the development of effective
glycoprotein-based vaccines requires a comprehensive understanding of
glycosylation patterns, the factors shaping the glycan landscape, and their
impact on antigenicity and immunogenicity
Hur kan broderi och musikimprovisation informera varandra i en skapande process
No full textThis work investigates how embroidery and musical improvisation can inform each other in a creative process. How the different techniques and materials interact, and can give each other creative framework and new methods. Together they will meet in an installation that depicts the experience of being in water. Using
the body as a tool, I have explored the physical sensations in the encounter with the water in the canal where I live. This has become the basis for what the embroidery and improvisations express, as well as for the final expression of the installation. In the installation video projection is also used as a material.
Embroidery and improvisation have been alternated throughout the process. Spatial sound translated through fabric, the rhythm of the stitches and the tonality of the thread have been investigated.The improvisation has taken place within the framework of free improvisation and I have used both my own voice and piano in
my investigation. In addition, I have held workshops in vocal improvisation for groups in order to be able to reach a clearer communication of the experience of being in water. All improvisations have been translated into the embroideries and vice versa. The spatial work has been ongoing with tests on hanging the fabrics, scale and meeting with the video projection. The result was an installation with projections of water, a
recorded, improvised sound and large, embroidered silk sheets that the audience could move in between. A way of being enclosed by water. Choosing the widely different techniques and materials - music and embroidery - to express the feeling of being in water helped me to pinpoint what it was in the experience itself
that was important to me. Presence, that was clear from the start, but it was also about being in contact and about communication.In many ways, the work has been about creating a wordless language through - and to express - a somatic experience
Addressing the Inclination for Part-Time Employment: Understanding Practically Educated Gen Z Women’s Perceptions of Full-Time Employment in the Netherlands
No full textPurpose: This master’s thesis explores the perceptions of practically educated Generation Z
(Gen Z) women in the Netherlands about full-time employment. The Netherlands
has a unique status for its large part-time employment culture that especially
attracts practically educated women; however, less is known about the perceptions
of Gen Z towards these standards.
Theory: This study discusses the results through the lens of the Bounded Rationality theory
of Simon (1955) and the Doing Gender theory (West & Zimmerman, 1987).
Method: A qualitative methodology was applied using 20 semi-structured interviews with
Gen Z women in the Netherlands holding a practical education.
Results: The findings reveal that full-time employment is not inherently avoided, as
preferences for full-time employment are often shaped by deeply rooted gender
beliefs, sectoral standards, and lifestyle and care preferences. Financial motives and
busyness were found to be the two primary drivers for full-time employment;
however, participants overwhelmingly opt for part-time employment once having
children to create time for informal childcare. Limited awareness of the long-term
risks of avoiding full-time employment suggests a need for further research into the
role of knowledge and information in shaping full-time employment preparedness
Teaching materials analysis– programming within the subject of technology
No full textThis study investigates how programming is represented in Swedish compulsory school
technology materials (grades F–9), focusing on the interaction of text and images. Drawing on
a social semiotic and multimodal learning perspective, six materials (three student textbooks
and three teacher guides, published 2014–2024) were analyzed. The aim is to identify which
programming concepts students encounter, how programming is portrayed visually and
verbally, and how these modes interact to support understanding.
The analysis reveals three dominant themes: programming as activity, programming as
algorithm, and programming as a system component. Results show substantial variation in
representation. Multimodal resources can scaffold progression from playful interaction to
abstract reasoning, yet inconsistent coordination between text and image often hinders
comprehension, particularly for beginners. The design of student textbooks and teaching
materials thus serves a dual role: providing teachers with subject content and enabling
adaptation to diverse learners. Teachers’ subject knowledge and didactic awareness emerge as
crucial for effective use of multimodal resources.
The findings further highlight the absence of schematic images and consistent frameworks for
programming across grade levels, creating uncertainty about subject progression. Peer review
of materials is recommended to strengthen accessibility and equivalence. The study concludes
that programming in primary technology education requires continued research and
development, with potential to expand discourse on digital literacies in compulsory schoolin
Transforming intercultural competence in non-formal Swedish-language learning: A case study of a library-based activity
No full textThis study explores how non-formal language learning activities can foster intercultural competence among adult learners, using the theory of guided transformative learning as its framework. The aim of this research is to understand how such activities can serve as effective platforms for intercultural competence development. Guided transformative learning, built upon transformative learning theory and the zone of proximal development, captures the interplay between internal meaning-making and external guidance in the process of intercultural development. A qualitative case study was conducted on a non-formal Swedish-language learning activity organized by a public library, with data gathered through semi-structured interviews with three participants, a group interview with two facilitators, and three observation sessions. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ intercultural competence was enhanced through reflective engagement with culturally embedded content, scaffolded by facilitator support and peer interaction. The findings indicate that participants’ intercultural competence developed through confronting challenges (e.g., language barriers, cultural puzzles, and social networking desire), engaging in critical reflection and peer interaction, and receiving guidance from facilitators. In this learning process, the activity’s cultural content, combined with a supportive learning environment, enabled participants to acquire cultural knowledge, adjust attitudes, and adapt behaviors towards the host culture
Adapting mindfulness meditation for immigrant at-risk youth: assessing wellbeing outcomes in a swedish school setting
No full textIn Sweden, many young immigrants and refugees face emotional difficulties, social marginalisation, and high levels of stress, all of which have an impact on their general wellness. Although mindfulness-based techniques in schools are becoming more popular, little is known about how effective such interventions are for at-risk immigrant students in multicultural settings. This study aims to assess the efficacy and cultural suitability of a mindfulness meditation program for at-risk high school immigrant youth in Gothenburg, Sweden. Standardised Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire was used to extract wellbeing data from 17 students before and after the intervention using an explanatory mixed methods approach.In- depth semi-structured interviews with four students were conducted afterwards to learn more about their experiences with the program. Results show better sleep, less stress, better emotional control, and a stronger feeling of self-awareness among participants. Self-esteem, resilience, love, internal serenity, and the value of self-awareness are examples of qualitative themes. Education professionals, school counsellors, and legislators interested in trauma-sensitive, inclusive mental health programs can benefit from this study. It emphasises how mindfulness programs that are culturally relevant might help vulnerable immigrant youths with their emotional health and school integration
Kristdemokratisk alkoholpolitik i Sverige och Finland
No full textSyfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur religiöst präglade nischpartier använder idéer och inramningar strategiskt för att motivera offentlig styrning inom ideologiskt laddade policyområden. Teori: I denna uppsats används tre kompletterande teoretiska perspektiv för att analysera hur de kristdemokratiska partierna i Sverige och Finland har positionerat sig i alkoholpolitiska frågor: nischpartiteori, framingteori och idéanalys. Tillsammans utgör dessa perspektiv en analytisk verktygslåda där varje teori bidrar med en specifik funktion i analysarbetet Metod: En komparativ idéanalys genomförs för att studera hur de svenska och finska Kristdemokraternas alkoholpolitiska positioner utvecklats över tid. Materialet består av partiprogram från partiernas bildande fram till idag, samt ett par utvalda centrala alkoholpolitiska riksdagsdebatter från respektive land. Resultat: Resultatet visar att bägge partier över tid använder sig av strategiska inramningsstrategier för att legitimera den egna alkoholpolitiken. Bägge partier går över tid från att primärt använda religiösa och moraliska ramar, till att i stället primärt använda folkhälsoramar för att legitimera den egna politiken. Även om bägge partier över tid blir mindre restriktiva i sin alkoholpolitiska hållning, är bägge partier än idag förespråkare av en restriktiv alkoholpolitik. Nischpartiteorin har visat sig användbar för att förstå partiernas alkoholpolitiska förflyttningar, och även deras agerande i centrala alkoholpolitiska frågor i respektive land