1.
Hjorth Aronsson, Christina, 1948-
(författare)
Struktur, handling och rumslig morfologi : Två fall av förnyelse och byggande i urban miljö
1999
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
The dissertation addresses problems concerning relations between decentralised welfare and centralised planning and building authorities as central matters in the public sector on communal level. Problems concerning relations between public planning and private market according to building are also focused. The study is based on Durkheim's macrosociology, social epistemology, and sociology of knowledge, developing an analysis model built upon Mary Douglas' grid-group typology, new-durkheimian theory of ritual action and urban semiotics. Key concepts are cosmologies, social welfare, market, and claims for influence on the process of physical planning. The analysis is made in relation to changes in welfare state perspective on macro level.The study's empirical material is collected from documents, official statistics, and interviews with essential actors in public sector and private enterprises, reflecting renewal efforts and of new planning.Decentralization of public decision-making evolves claims of local influence as results of new insights and knowledge among local professionals and politicians as results of new cooperation. Emancipation and ambivalence in relation central-local are consequences. Increased participation from private market on planning and building reflect knowledge-based differences and tensions due to their respective cosmological belonging. Changes in the post-war welfare sector are reflected in accumulated problems in a neighbourhood-area. Decarceration is reflected as normalisation in ordinary housing. On urban level, this reflects increased morphological, as well as socio-economical differentiation. Theoretically is discussed the possible expansion of grid-group typology through integrating concepts of action, of structure, and of spatial morphology (semiotics), called intra- and inter cosmological phenomena.
2.
Jönhill, Jan Inge
(författare)
Samhället som system och dess ekologiska omvärld. En studie i Niklas Luhmanns sociologiska systemteori
1997
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This thesis is divided into two main parts. The first part is an exposé of Niklas Luhmann’s comprehensive sociological systems theory. Systems theory is a theory focusing upon the distinction between system and environment. In the first chapter the systems theoretical foundations as related to theory of science, its basic methodology, its central concepts and their historical development are presented and discussed. In the second and third chapter the presentation and discussion takes its point of departure in the two primary levels of analysis: the theory of social systems as communication systems; and the as well special as general theory of society as social system, respectively. One of Luhmann’s many challenging thesis – inspired by the phenomenology of Schutz and the second order cybernetics of von Foerster – is that the sociologist primarily is an observer of observations of (other) observations; another that social systems operate as autopoietic systems, i.e. as self-referential and “self-producing”, operatively closed, but cognitively open systems. The theory of society comprises of four parts: 1) the theory of communication media, 2) of evolution, 3) of differentiation, and 4) of society’s self-description. According to the theory of differentiation, the systems of economy, politics, law, science, family, etc., are operating as functions systems in the system of society. One conclusion of the analysis is that in modern society the distinction between inclusion and exclusion is a main, guiding distinction for the understanding of how persons are connected to society. The second part of the thesis is a systems theoretical analysis of the ecological environmental problems of society, thereby showing the relevance of systems theory in the understanding a contemporary sociological issue. The analysis is carried out around three theses: 1) Society can only relate and react to the environmental problem through communication; 2) Modern society is, to a high degree, dependent upon technology. Therefore, it is exposed to risks. Risk should be seen mainly as a form of danger caused by decisions of one’s own. Risk is thus not contrary to security, but a distinction between danger and risk; 3) Functional differentiation, which is shown to have a lot of advantages to the modern complex society, also causes great difficulties in attempting to solve environmental problems. However, this insight brings, as is shown, the only key to solutions. The environmental issue makes more urgent not only the development of an ”environmental sociology”, but first and foremost a general theory of society.
3.
Tyrkkö, Arja
(författare)
I skärningspunkten mellan arbetsliv och föräldraskap : En studie om livsformer i 1990-talets Sverige
1999
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
The central problem area of this dissertation concerns the connection between working life and parenthood. The main purpose is to develop an analytical strategy which validity is determined by the extent to which it can consider and cover the complexity of the conditions and practices of everyday life for working parents. Starting in an understanding of the concept life-mode as a sensitizing concept, an analytical model is developed and a Boolean approach is used to study the complex interrelation between working life and parenthood. In the dissertation the relationship between working life and parenthood is studied focusing on the work place. Parenthood, organization and gender are three key concepts which direct the analysis of the organizational forms everyday life take on. The empirical material of the dissertation comes from a questionnaire survey carried out in Sweden in 1992. The material consists of nine occupational groups, divided in women and men. A qualitative comparative method, developed by Charles C. Ragin, is used to compare organization-based adjustment situations. The factors of the analytical model are presented in binary form and tested against empirical data. The results are presented as equations that reflect the complexity of the interrelations between working life and parenthood through conjunctures of causal conditions, i e leading position, thedominance of one of the sexes at departmental level, children-specific scope of action, general scope of action, and the outcome, i e different adjustment strategies used by parents. The division of the adjustment strategies in three degrees of imposed restrictions on the work situation - everyday actions, smaller restrictions and bigger changes of the work situation.- is an attempt to account for the size of the work and family circles.
4.
Augustsson, Gunnar
(författare)
Etniska relationer i arbetslivet : teknik, arbetsorganisation och etnisk diskriminering i svensk bilindustri
1996
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
The goal of this study is to understanding ethnic discrimination by employing a complex theoretical approach which allows for an understanding of ethnic relations and ethnic discrimination as a social process. The study includes a case study at Volvo Torslandaverken in Gothenburg, and focuses on ethnic discrimination against the background of both structural conditions and situational factors. The analysis results from studying personnel statistics and interviews with salaried employees, union elected representatives, and workers.The study includes two technical and organizational environments. The first environment, manual systems, demands loyalty of individuals to the technical and organizational system. The other environment, integrated mechanization, has a decentralized group organizational structure. Both environments are studied with consideration taken to recruiting, leadership, and solidarity among workers.The results show that ethnic discrimination appears to be a very complicated phenomena, the expression of which is a consequence of dynamic interplay between structure and action. New forms of work have meant that workers' professional skills are now organized to compliment one another and they work more in groups. This has resulted in an increased need for familiar cultural and social skills within the groups. Such a development risks encouraging varying degrees of negligence, aversion, and exclusion of ethnic views.
5.
Bruhn, Anders
(författare)
Individualiseringen och det fackliga kollektivet : En studie av industritjänstemäns förhållningssätt till facket
1999
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This dissertation is based on a research project focusing privately employed industrial white-collar workers in Gothenburg, Sweden. The project was initiated due to signs of changes in the way employees perceive and act in relation to the union. The aim of this thesis is to study the causes behind individual patterns of action in relation to union membership and activity. My ambition is to increase our knowledge of the conditions of unions in contemporary working life, as well as of organisations of interest more generally. The problem is tackled in two steps: First I describe and analyse the individual motives behind different patterns of action. Second I analyse contextual causes, both in the workplace and in society at large, behind changes in motives evidenced today. My point of departure is theories about value change and individualization. The concept of value is here used to analyse how the individualization process changes the conditions for organized collective behaviour. My methodological approach is multistrategic. The main component of the approach is qualitative interviews. I interviewed employees at seven different companys during the period of 1993-1995. 1997 these were complemented with a postal survey to a representative sample of the target group in Gothenburg. The analysis reveals a distinctive generation gap in motives in relation to union membership and activity. Group-utility based instrumental views about the union, often in connection with "solidarity" and other traditional union values, was quite common among the older employees. These views were related to "security-based" materialistic value patterns. Instrumental considerations based on personal utility were mote frequent among the younger employees and coexisted with "private post-materialistic" value patterns. The private postmaterialist is fairly open-minded, critically reflexive and ambivalent. He/she gives priority to "libertarian" values, such as personal development and self-fulfilment. Situationally bound activities and objects ate not evaluated in relation to any deeper ideological convictions. As a result of this peripheral values, attitudes and actions adapt rapidly to situational changes and opinions are easily altered. This is a "risk-group" for unions and other established organizations of interest. They are not against organized collectives as such. To participate though, they demand direct personal influence and benefits. To attract them unions has to revaluate both how activity is carried out and what issues to give priority. Private postmaterialism is, along with the more principled and ideologically based "social" variant of postmaterialism, a reflection of increasing individualism. Causes for value change and individualisation can be accounted for by changes in the socialisation process and the growing differentiation and fragmentation in todays complex society.
6.
Lindblom, Jonas
(författare)
När vetenskapen tystnar : Ett socialpsykologiskt studium av massmedias behandling av morden i Falun, Bjuv och på Stureplan
1999
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This dissertation is a social psychological study of the influence of science on everyday thinking. The specific focus is the way in which mass media, as an intermediate arena of knowledge in society, accepts or rejects scientific concepts and findings. Particularly, it concerns the phenomenon that the Swedish mass media calls "the inexplicable violence". The thesis points to a journalistic independence from science. On the one hand this refers to the condition, that the journalist can reject the legitimacy of scientific explanations to violence. On the other hand it illuminates the establishment of independent links of knowledge, between the journalist and everyday man. This work consists of three main arguments for a journalistic independence from science. The first argument demonstrates how the scientific expert and the journalist differ in their interpretations of violence. While the scientific expert refers to social, biological, psychological or medical causes, the journalistic thinking is based upon a moralistic perception in terms of motives. The second argument deepens the understanding of the moral rationality in mass media. It shows in detail how the moral pathos gives rise to a distinct set of assumptions, differing from the presuppositions of the scientific experts. The third and final argument, establishes a connection between the journalist and "the everyday thinker". The purpose of this concept is not only to show that everyday man could reject science and formulate his own knowledge. It also suggests that even when accepted, science could not give self-evident and unquestionable answers to social problems.
7.
Lundgren, Mats
(författare)
Den kommunala förvaltningen som rationalistiskt ideal : En fallstudie om styrning och handlingsutrymme inom skola, barnomsorg och miljö- och hälsoskydd
1999
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
A municipal authority is a considerable producer of services in the local community and is commonly perceived as an important sector of the Swedish welfare system. One aspect of a well-functioning municipal organisation is that its administrative organs function efficiently. This study examines how activities in municipal administration aresteered. The focus is on how different methods are used within a vertical hierarchical perspective to influence the actions of the participants and how the latter try to create space for action. To analyse the problem an ideal-type steering model is used.The study consists of three sections. In the first the research problem and the aims of the study are introduced as well as the methodological and theoretical approach. The result of the study is presented in the second section and in the third conclusions are drawn and discussed.The study shows that the perceptions of the participants involved regarding the possibilities of steering the everyday activities with the support of the methods studied differ on a number of points depending on the sector studied. When control of the various steering methods is distributed in different organisational units in the municipality a number of steering mechanisms operate side-by-side, sometimes in harmony and sometimes independently or in pure conflict with their goals. Steering leads to clear restrictions but there is clearly room for initiative, a `free-zone' where the individual has room to act independently.Is it possible based on this study to state whether the ideal-type model functions in the way intended? On many accounts it would seem doubtful whether the effects of steering lead to beneficial effects for the activity. Rather it would seem that the effects of steering sometimes function more or less randomly because the administration exists in a complex context in which the staff can be expected to have its own expectations and actin accordance with them.
8.
Waara, Peter, 1963-
(författare)
Ungdom i gränsland
1996
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
9.
10.
Fahlgren, Siv
(författare)
Det sociala livets drama och dess manus : diskursanalys, kön och sociala avvikelser
1999
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
We are the eyes of our discourses. This is the point of departure. The disourses make us see, think, talk, act. be and move in certain ways. They contribute to forming our bodies, our souls, our genders. Therefore, to consider how such discourses are ordered becomes an important project. How is the manuscript of the social drama written? How is meaning constructed in our lives? What effects may the construction of meaning have? The ensuing research assignment will be to design a discourse analysis which is justifiable from the perspectives of gender theory and ethics and which can function as a research strategy, and to apply that discourse analysis to three areas or texts: a traditional social science text, texts from the contemporary discussion about gender theory, and a story of my own from social work with children.First, a frame centered around the philosophy of language and the theory of knowledge is constructed to encircle the discourse analysis as a research strategy, and then the analysis is described out of an example. The first application—to a classic, sociological text—clearly illustrates how a disourse analysis can be made, and it also demonstrates how gendered meanings can be constituted and discursively reproduced in social science texts as well as what potential effects the constitution of meaning can have. This application makes up an illustration of how gender differences are constructed and naturalised in a concurrence of discourse and practice.The second application is a discursive reading of the contemporary discussion about gender theory and its various gendered meanings and varying effects. Here I posit my own view of gender/sex in relation to that discussion. Both in scholarly work and in everyday life there are discursive controversies about which gendered meaning to naturalise, about which drama to enact, about which manuscript to use. The discourse analysis can visualise such controversies.In the third application of the discourse analysis, the relation between discourse and practice is focused. It concerns social work with children and departs from my own story about a child who is taken into custody. In the analysis, social work is described as paradoxical and contradictory, a discipline whose governing purpose is the maintenance and administration of central social values and orders like class, gender, and ethnicity (here focused on gender).The discourse analysis in the three applications opens up opportunities for a discussion and an ethical reflection about how discursive constitutions are made and what effects they have. Contrarily, the analysis also demonstrates what discursive constitutions aggravate or silence in reference to other approaches or modes of expression, and consequential forms of social practices, relations, life styles, and ways of life.
