https://www.mdu.se/

This thesis investigates what drives insider trading returns by evaluating three partly competing and partly complementary explanations: the private information hypothesis, overconfidence, and anchoring. Using a critical literature synthesis, published empirical studies are assessed against a set of theoretical predictions derived from the private information hypothesis and behavioral finance, enabling systematic comparison across mechanisms and market contexts.   

The evidence most strongly supports the private information hypothesis. Insider purchases consistently generate abnormal returns across different methodologies, time periods, and markets, with predictive power concentrated among opportunistic traders and smaller firms where information asymmetry is highest. Strategic timing evidence confirms that deliberate exploitation of private information drives the aggregate pattern, though the evidence applies to a specific and identifiable subset of trades rather than insider trading uniformly.   

Overconfidence is theoretically compelling and well-documented among retail investors and executives, but direct empirical validation among corporate insiders specifically remains limited. The supporting evidence is analogical rather than direct, and alternative explanations including skewness preference and career concerns cannot be fully ruled out. Anchoring is on firmer empirical ground. Direct evidence shows that insiders trade differently near the 52-week high in ways that carry no informational content, though the most informed insiders exploit rather than fall victim to this bias.   

The interaction between overconfidence and anchoring has never been directly tested. This thesis develops conceptual propositions suggesting the interaction may be reinforcing or offsetting depending on signal strength and insider type and proposes a regression framework for future empirical investigation. The findings carry important welfare implications: adverse selection costs imposed on uninformed investors vary systematically with firm size and transparency, and behavioral distortion introduces additional welfare costs through noise in the price formation process that current regulatory frameworks have not fully addressed.  

This study examines how unanticipated interest rate shocks affect the returns of five U.S.sectoral ETFs between 2008 and 2025, using daily changes in the 2-year Treasury constantmaturity yield on FOMC announcement days as a proxy for monetary policy shocks. Thestudy analyzes 147 FOMC meetings across a period that includes the Great Financial Crisis,the Zero Interest Rate Policy era, and the post-pandemic hiking cycle. To isolate sectorspecific reactions from the broad market movements, the S&P 500 is included as a controlvariable. A dual framework methodology is used, combining standard OLS regressions on acleaned dataset with robust MM-estimations on the full dataset across both a narrow and wideevent window.The results reveal heterogeneity in how sectors respond to interest rate shocks. The financialsector (XLF) shows a consistent and statistically significant positive idiosyncratic reactionacross all multiple regression models, consistent with the Net Interest Margin theory whereasset repricing is done faster than the liability repricing. The consumer discretionary sector(XLY) shows a negative reaction in five out of six models, consistent with credit and financialconstraint theories, although the effect loses statistical significance in the wide robust model,suggesting the reaction is conditional rather than structural. For the remaining sectors therewere no consistent idiosyncratic reactions that could be isolated from broad marketmovements. Particularly XLK was showing instability due to the structural overlap with theS&P 500 as control variable. Overall, the findings confirm that sector-level analysis revealsmeaningful differences that broad market indices alone would not capture.

 Municipalities rely on debt financing to fund long-term investments in infrastructure and public services. However, changes in interest rates and increased financial uncertainty have made debt management an important strategic challenge. This thesis examines how municipalities balance borrowing costs and financial risk when structuring their debt portfolios, with a specific focus on Eskilstuna Municipality. The study investigates whether Eskilstuna’s debt strategy can be considered economically rational under the assumption of efficient financial markets. The study applies a mixed-method approach combining quantitative regression analysis and qualitative interview-based analysis. The empirical analysis uses data from Swedish municipalities to examine the relationship between debt structure, debt levels, and financial costs measured as net interest expenses as a share of total revenues. The regression models include variables such as debt per capita, capital maturity, interest fixation period, political orientation, and market conditions to evaluate how different factors are associated with municipal financial costs. The results indicate that debt structure plays an important role in explaining differences in financial costs between municipalities. Higher debt levels and longer maturity structures are associated with increased financial costs, suggesting a trade-off between cost minimization and financial stability. The analysis also indicates that Eskilstuna’s strategy reflects a risk-management perspective, where the municipality accepts potentially higher costs in exchange for reduced exposure to refinancing risk and interest rate volatility. The findings suggest that Eskilstuna’s debt management strategy cannot be considered universally optimal, as optimality depends on institutional conditions and market assumptions. However, the strategy appears economically rational and consistent with theoretical principles regarding efficient markets and the balance between borrowing costs and financial risk. Due to limitations related to sample size and the observational nature of the data, the results should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. 

IEC-61499 is used to model distributed, event-driven automation software, where control logic may be split across several devices. This flexibility is valuable for modern industrial systems, but it complicates design-time timing analysis. Properties such as reaction time and data age depend on the interaction between events, data, deployment, communication, and runtime assumptions. Therefore, the relevant timing structure must be reconstructed from IEC~61499 engineering artefacts before analysis can proceed.

This thesis investigates how timing models can be systematically extracted from IEC-61499 artefacts to support end-to-end analysis of data-propagation delays. The work defines an analysis-oriented timing model, specifies mapping rules from IEC-61499 project structures to that model, and implements a prototype extractor and timing-model builder for Eclipse-4diac/FORTE projects. The extracted models are used to derive end-to-end chains and are integrated with the Rubus workflow.

The approach is evaluated on two distributed, industry-inspired use cases. The results show that IEC-61499 artefacts provide a usable structural basis for reconstructing timing models, while quantitative timing values and runtime assumptions must still be supplied from external sources or backend configuration. The generated Rubus projects were built and analysed, showing both satisfied timing constraints and detected violations under the configured assumptions. The contribution is a systematic extraction step that turns IEC-61499 design artefacts into timing models that can be inspected, enriched, and passed to backend analysis tools.

The European Union's decades-long reliance on Russian gas was exposed when Russia invaded Ukraine and further weaponised its gas supplies in 2022, resulting in a price shock.  Countries reliant on Russian gas varied significantly in the pre-shock period, with some countries nearly fully and some slightly dependent. This study tests whether higher dependency countries experienced higher energy inflation. The study uses a panel of 25 EU member states across 2018-2024, where pre-crisis dependency in 2020 serves as a continuous treatment variable estimated using a two-way fixed effects difference-in-differences model. The baseline models using energy inflation as the dependent variable yielded a consistently positive but statistically imprecise relationship between dependency and energy inflation. In contrast, specifications using overall HICP as the dependent variable showed a positive and significant association across all models. The imprecise energy HICP result is consistent with the possibility that fiscal interventions limited observed energy prices in high-dependency countries, which would attenuate any dependency gradient in the energy component. As fiscal interventions are not directly modelled, the mechanism is interpreted institutionally rather than tested empirically. 

This thesis examines what determines the degree of first-day returns on initial public offerings (IPOs) in the United States between 2015 and 2020. The study builds on theories of information asymmetry (Rock, 1986), venture-capital incentives (Gompers, 1996; Lee and Wahal, 2004) and investor sentiment (Ljungqvist, Nanda and Singh, 2006). Three hypotheses are tested on a sample of 766 US IPOs using ordinary least squares regression with heteroscedasticity-robust standard errors. The data come from Jay Ritter's IPO data page and IPOScoop.com. The results show that the average first-day return is 15.95 percent. The strongest predictor is venture- capital backing, which is associated with 14.4 percentage points higher first-day returns, supporting the grandstanding hypothesis over the certification hypothesis. Underwriter reputation is positively associated with underpricing, consistent with the reversal documented by Loughran and Ritter (2004). The hot-market year of 2020 adds about 15.2 percentage points of extra underpricing, consistent with investor sentiment theory. Firm age has a positive and significant effect, which contradicts theoretical predictions but may reflect selection effects in the modern IPO market. The model explains about 15 percent of the variation in first-day returns when measured by adjusted R-squared.

Industrial Control Systems are often found today in critical infrastructure and utilities such as power generation facilities and water processing plants. Within this automation solution often lies the unassuming controller quietly monitoring and controlling these processes using Input/Output (I/O) devices. Failure within these kinds of systems can often incur high economic costs and in the worst case loss of life. A common method of increasing reliability within controllers is using standby redundancy, whereby a redundant backup controller is ready to take over should the primary controller fail. However, when realising redundancy using open62541, an open source implementation of OPC UA, we find some issues. Because there are no mechanisms implemented in open62541 that automatically handle redundancy, if a failure happens, the backup would not be able to seamlessly continue operations. This study includes an investigation of what internal states must be synchronised between primary and backup, a proposed solution implemented in C, including failure detection and synchronisation functionality, and finally an experiment for validating the artefact. The result shows that using the redundancy module, a seamless failover can happen within a 100 millisecond deadline.

In an era shaped by autonomous systems, designers increasingly confront a central question: how should responsibility and decision-making be distributed when environmental action is partially delegated to algorithms? This article explores how AI infrastructures in marine environmental operations reshape relations between human intention, machine autonomy, and ecological care. Drawing on posthuman design theory, Actor–Network Theory, and explainable AI, the study proposes an Ethics of Autonomy framework that positions design as a mediator between human oversight and algorithmic agency. Using a case-informed analysis of three marine robotic systems—FloatyBoats (coral restoration), Seaswarm (oil spill mitigation), and the autonomous surface vessel Vatoz (marine waste collection), the paper illustrates how sensing, feedback loops, and adaptive control enable autonomous systems to move from environmental monitoring toward ecological intervention. The study argues that responsible innovation in autonomous environmental technologies requires systems that are interpretable, accountable, and embedded within transparent algorithmic decision-making infrastructures supporting ecological responsibility. 

• China has increased its efforts to influence foreign journalists and media over the past decade, not least through different forms of repression and various co-optation strategies. This report draws on an online survey and semi-structured interviews to investigate Chinese authoritarian influence attempts on Swedish language media outlets.
• Swedish journalists experience repression in both China and Sweden. One primary method of attempting to control reporting is by restricting access to China. A considerable number of research participants reported additional repressive activities, such as personal criticism from or threats by the Chinese authorities. The Chinese embassy in Sweden has been an active perpetrator of these repressive activities, and was particularly active in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Swedish journalists have also experienced possible attempts at co-optation by the Chinese authorities, such as offers of paid trips to China.
• Despite concerns about self-censorship in the broader community of Swedish language media, few individual journalists reported practicing this themselves. Rather than silencing Swedish journalists, this study suggests that China’s influence attempts have stimulated more critical reporting on China. This confirms the findings of previous studies that Chinese media interference is less effective in countries with robust democratic institutions and high levels of press freedom.

Abstract

Date: 2026 June

Level: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr

Institution: School of Business, Society & Engineering, Mälardalen University

Authors: Ammar Barbar Askar Gino Linetti 1996/01/02 2002/09/24

Title: Operating Cross-Cultural Branding

Supervisor: Edward Gillmore

Keywords: Cross cultural, IKEA, Global markets, Brand identity, Swedish culture, & Company.

Research Question: How does IKEA maintain its Swedish brand identity while adapting to different culturalcontexts globally?

Purpose: This study explores IKEA as a global company on how they maintain a consistent brand image acrosscultures. It aims to identify key strategies and barriers in cross-cultural branding.

Method: This study utilizes a thematic analysis to explore how IKEA keeps its Swedish identity throughout globalmarkets. The study takes an interpretivist approach to better understand cultural perceptions and interpretations ofIKEA’s branding.

Conclusion: The research explored how IKEA maintains its brand image and Swedish identity across culturesthrough thematic analysis of ads, documents, videos, and observations. IKEA’s techniques consist of using Swedishnames on their products, colorations, and typical Swedish dishes to preserve its culture and image. IKEA mainlyfocuses on three factors, Brand Identity and standardization- localization. These three pillars support IKEA’sstrategy for maintaining its Swedish image while remaining globally

For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), building systematic innovation capability is essential to long-term survival and growth. Yet the ISO 56002 standard – designed to support such capability – is often inaccessible due to its abstraction, formal terminology, and lack of implementation tools. This thesis addresses the gap between the standard's potential and its usability for SMEs.

Adopting a Design Science Research approach, the thesis documents the design rationale underlying a self-facilitating canvas tool that translates ISO 56002 into a visual, accessible format. Drawing on Boundary Objects Theory and Cognitive Load Theory, a traceability matrix links each design decision to its theoretical and empirical grounding. From this matrix, five preliminary design principles for translating complex source texts into accessible tools are extracted.

The tool is intended to be self-facilitating, i.e., removing the need for an external facilitator. Expert evaluation assessed the tool's usability, relevance, fidelity to ISO 56002, and perceived utility. The small pool of experts (n = 3) found the tool usable and faithful to the standard, though adoption barriers in Swedish manufacturing contexts were identified. No end-user testing with SMEs was conducted.

The primary contribution is the five design principles: reduce cognitive load, enable self-facilitation, structure content around user-relevant categories, reveal interconnectedness, and provide a shared visual artefact. These principles are presented as a starting point for further validation, not as universal prescriptions. They are intended to guide academics and practitioners who create information tools for non-expert users based on a complex source text.Keywords: ISO 56002, SMEs, innovation management, design science research, boundary objects, cognitive load theory, design principles, complex standards translation

Aim: The aim was to describe women’s experience of medical abortion. Method: A web-based survey study with a qualitative approach was conducted with 35 women who had undergone a medical abortion. The survey included open-ended questions and some questions with fixed response options that were analyzed with qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: The result showed that women’s experiences of medical abortion included physical and emotional reactions. The majority described that information from midwives was clear and contributed to a feeling of safety, while many requested more realistic information about pain, bleeding and the overall abortion process. Support from family members and midwives was important. Respectful and non-judgmental treatment contributed to safety, while lack of support and limited presence contributed to worries and loneliness. The pain was often described as intense, and many experienced that it was worse than excepted. Women who received care in a combined ward also described emotional distress and feelings of sadness, discomfort and loneliness. Conclusion: Women’s experiences were influenced by the care, support, information and sometimes organizational factors. The results highlight the importance of respectful support to creating a sense of safety during the abortion process. The organizational conditions of healthcare were also important for women’s well-being. 

This study explores how immigrant women from Middle Eastern and Muslim-majority cultural backgrounds in Sweden interpret and experience communication within organised mammography screening invitation letters. The study examines how linguistic, cultural, informational, emotional, and institutional communication barriers influence perceptions of accessibility, understanding, trust, and navigation of screening communication.

Using a qualitative interpretivist and human-centred approach, the study employed semi-structured interviews, a focus group with co-design elements, and a co-creation session with a Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) expert. Thematic analysis was used to explore participants’ experiences, interpretations, and communication-related needs within organised mammography screening contexts.

The findings demonstrate that communication barriers within mammography invitation letters extend beyond language complexity alone. Participants frequently associated unclear communication, culturally unfamiliar terminology, insufficient procedural explanation, limited emotional reassurance, and lack of culturally responsive communication with broader experiences of healthcare uncertainty, institutional distance, and difficulties navigating screening communication. The findings further suggest that communication accessibility is closely connected to health literacy, healthcare familiarity, emotional interpretation, institutional trust, and sociocultural context.

The study contributes to discussions on equity-oriented and culturally responsive healthcare communication by approaching mammography invitation letters as communication and design artifacts rather than solely informational documents. Based on participant experiences, co-design activities, RCC co-creation reflections, and the development of a final conceptual prototype redesign, the study proposes a conceptual and user-informed redesign framework intended to support clearer, more accessible, culturally responsive, and inclusive mammography invitation communication for immigrant women in Sweden.

Robotics development depends on large, varied, and well-labelled datasets for training, testing, and evaluating perception and automation systems. However, collecting real-world data can be costly, time-consuming, difficult to scale, and sometimes unsafe or impractical, especially when rare scenarios, varied object poses, lighting conditions, cluttered environments, or safety-critical situations are required. Synthetic data pipelines address this challenge by enabling engineers to generate, configure, inspect, annotate, and evaluate artificial data in a controlled and repeatable workflow.

This thesis examines engineers’ trust in Large Language Model (LLM)-based support within the SCAILAB synthetic data pipeline. The purpose of the study is to understand how engineers experience existing LLM-supported functions, identify mismatches between expectations and actual use, explore where additional support could be introduced, and develop human-centred design recommendations for more trustworthy integration. The study is based on a qualitative case study with four internal engineers who had direct experience of the pipeline and its LLM-supported features. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, task-based think-aloud sessions, and screen-recorded workflow interactions. Interview and think-aloud data were analysed thematically, while screen recordings were examined through behavioural coding to identify verification effort, workflow friction, and possible support opportunities.

The findings show that engineers’ trust is conditional, task-dependent, and closely connected to verification and control. Trust increased when outputs were easy to inspect, when the system provided clear context or explanations, and when engineers could decide how changes were applied. Trust decreased when outputs were difficult to verify, when the system misunderstood task context, when results changed unpredictably, or when errors could affect later pipeline stages. The study also identified possible future support areas, including requirement configuration, pipeline construction, parameter tuning, validation, output quality checking, dataset preparation, annotation review, evaluation, and monitoring.

The thesis concludes that trustworthy LLM support in engineering workflows should be staged, reviewable, transparent, and designed around engineer control. Rather than replacing human judgement, such support should reduce effort while preserving verification, accountability, and confidence in downstream data quality.

 This thesis provides a systematic product-level descriptive analysis of European Union exportdestination shares following the April 2025 United States tariff shock, using an HS4-by-month panelconstructed from Eurostat Comext data covering January 2022 to December 2025. Rather than focusing on total exports, it analyses whether these sectors became less oriented toward the UnitedStates market after trade costs increased, drawing on the concept of trade diversion. The analysisis guided by three frameworks: trade diversion, heterogeneous-firm trade models, and the gravitymodel. Using an HS4-by-month panel, a difference-in-differences approach with product and timefixed effects is applied. The preferred specification is a weighted EUR model emphasizing economically significant sectors. The analysis includes several robustness checks, including quantity-basedmeasures, sample adjustments, exchange-rate controls, and bootstrap inference. Point estimatesindicate a decline in the United States export share of tariff-exposed sectors relative to exempt sectors after the shock, with consistent patterns across specifications. Exchange-rate movements maypartly account for the weakening of the stabilisation-period effect, suggesting that currency dynamics could have contributed to later-period changes in export allocation. There is no strong evidenceof systematic export redirection to China. The China-share specification does not show a corresponding increase for exposed sectors, indicating that exporters did not systematically pivot towarda single alternative market. This is in line with the fact that reallocation was more likely diffuseacross multiple destinations or incomplete within the observed adjustment period. Statistical significance weakens under bootstrap inference, particularly for the immediate post-shock coefficient.While the point estimates remain economically meaningful and directionally consistent across specifications, the bootstrap results indicate that statistical inference is weak in a small-cluster setting.The findings should therefore be interpreted as suggestive rather than providing definitive causalevidence. The thesis contributes a transparent empirical baseline documenting sector-level exportshare patterns across fourteen HS4 product categories. This baseline provides a foundation againstwhich future research with larger panels and longer post-treatment horizons can be benchmarked.Overall, the results propose that major EU export sectors may have reduced their reliance on theUS market in response to the tariff shock, without strong signs of diversion to China.

Operational technology (OT) environments in industrial manufacturing rely on hundreds of networked devices whose security-relevant data such as network topology, asset identity, firmware, vulnerability, network traffic and regulatory requirements are distributed across multiple isolated systems with no standard integration mechanism.This fragmentation prevents security analysts from obtaining a complete, consistent, and auditable view of which assets are present, which are exposed to known vulnerabilities, and how a compromise could propagate through the network.

This thesis investigates how heterogeneous OT data sources can be systematically integrated into a multi-layer knowledge graph to provide asset visibility that is (i) unified, with all data sources queryable in a single graph; (ii) measurable, through enrichment coverage metrics of each layer; and (iii) traceable, with every finding linked through explicit graph relationships to its underlying evidence. The thesis further investigates whether this representation enables effective blast-radius analysis by combining structural topology and behaviour-driven communication analysis into a unified and traceable security analysis framework.

Three main contributions distinguish this work. First, a multi-layer architecture implemented in Neo4j, integrates topology, machine abstraction, asset identity, vulnerability intelligence, Net Flow behaviour, IEC~62443-inspired zones and conduits, and policy risk analysis through a pipeline of Python ingestion scripts. Second, a conservative, evidence-based asset classification model assigns observed devices to explicit scope categories ranging from confirmed machine association to deliberately unresolved, reducing over-classification errors and producing an auditable and reversible inventory. Third, a behaviour-driven zone and conduit model derives IEC~62443-inspired security zones automatically from asset classification output and generates conduits from observed Net Flow communication rather than manually defined architectural assumptions, enabling blast-radius analysis that reflects actual network behaviour rather than assumed design intent.

The system was evaluated using real industrial switch data from a manufacturing environment spanning eight Cisco Catalyst switches. Evaluation is performed using four dimensions: (i) enrichment coverage per layer, (ii) blast-radius query completeness and response time,(iii) false-positive reduction through vulnerability verification, and (iv) traceability through graph-path evidence. The resulting graph contains 18,677 nodes and 34,834 relationships representing 152 OT assets, with 100\% zone assignment coverage. A single Cypher query traces from switch port to confirmed CVE in 641\,ms. The vulnerability verification process eliminated 68 false-positive associations and identified 11 priority findings, including 6 confirmed and 5 unverifiable findings, while preserving the remaining uncertain cases for manual review. The results demonstrate that knowledge graph can support industrial OT defence by transforming fragmented security-relevant data into a unified and traceable representation, enabling faster assets visibility, vulnerability assessment, and blast-radius analysis in manufacturing environment.

The increasing digitalization of power system infrastructure has intensified the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT), expanding the cyber attack surface of critical energy systems. As demonstrated by multiple cyber incidents affecting electric grids, cyber compromise of industrial control systems can directly influence the behavior of physical systems, resulting in service disruptions and other high-impact consequences [1], [3]. Ensuring cyber–physical resilience has therefore become a central challenge for the energy sector. 

 This thesis investigates whether and how Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) principles can be systematically integrated with the IEC 62443 industrial cybersecurity framework to improve the cyber–physical resilience of power system infrastructure. 

 The study adopts a structured, scenario-based methodology using a representative power system architecture as a reference case study. First, the IEC 62443 framework is applied to the architecture to evaluate a control-centric cybersecurity approach, including risk assessment and implementation of security controls. Subsequently, Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) principles are applied to the same architecture to assess how consequence-driven engineering considerations influence cyber-to-physical escalation paths and system behavior. A comparative analysis is then conducted to identify gaps and differences between the IEC 62443 and CIE approaches with respect to architectural characteristics and modeled physical consequences. Finally, the study evaluates how integrating IEC 62443 with CIE principles influences cybersecurity architecture and contributes to improved cyber–physical resilience. 

 The results indicate that incorporating cyber informed engineering principles can influence the application of IEC 62443 by influencing security architecture decisions and limiting cyber-enabled physical impacts in selected scenarios. The work contributes to the understanding of how cyber informed engineering approaches can complement standards-based industrial cybersecurity practices to support improved cyber–physical resilience in power systems. 

Den ökade användningen av flexibla och digitala arbetsformer har bidragit till att frågor kring gränslöst arbete, spillover och arbetstillfredsställelse fått en allt större betydelse i dagens arbetsliv. Tidigare forskning har visat att dessa faktorer kan påverka individers välbefinnande och möjligheter till återhämtning, men färre studier har undersökt hur de tillsammans relaterar till arbetstillfredsställelse. Syftet med studien var att undersöka sambandet mellan gränslöst arbete, spillover, övertidsarbete och arbetstillfredsställelse hos kontorsanställda inom den privata sektorn, samt i vilken utsträckning dessa faktorer tillsammans kunde förklara variationen i arbetstillfredsställelse. Studien genomfördes med en kvantitativ tvärsnittsdesign där data samlades in genom en webbaserad enkät. Korrelations- och regressionsanalyser visade att högre grad av gränslöst arbete, spillover och övertidsarbete samvarierade med lägre arbetstillfredsställelse. Variablerna förklarade tillsammans 26% av variationen, där spillover var den enda statistiskt signifikanta prediktorn. Resultatet belyser spillovers särskilda betydelse för arbetstillfredsställelse och visar hur moderna arbetsvillkor relateras till välbefinnande och trivsel i arbetslivet.  

Studien har undersökt hur unga vuxna beskriver sina erfarenheter av att tolka svåra livssituationer kategoriserade som hinder eller möjligheter och vilka faktorer som påverkar detta, samt hur tolkningen förändras över tid. Studien genomfördes med en delvis induktiv ansats och kvalitativ metod, där data samlades in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Tio deltagare deltog och materialet analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys. Resultatet visade att tolkningen formas i ett samspel mellan aktuella resurser och förutsättningar, där individens värderingar, handlingsförmåga, uppfattning av krav och belastning spelade en roll. Händelser som upplevdes som meningsfulla och hanterbara tolkades i större utsträckning som möjligheter snarare än hinder. Tolkningen av livshändelser kunde förstås som en process där erfarenheter, copingstrategier, personlig utveckling och tid påverkade hur situationer omtolkades över tid. Flera aspekter av resultaten kunde även förstås i relation till teorin känsla av sammanhang (KASAM), där begriplighet, meningsfullhet och hanterbarhet tycktes ha betydelse för hur svåra situationer tolkades och omtolkades. 

Individer exponeras dagligen för idealiserade bilder av livsstil och konsumtion på sociala medier, där innehåll som signalerar lyx och status tidigare kopplats till negativa emotionella upplevelser genom social jämförelse. Tidigare forskning har ofta kopplat exponering för idealiserat innehåll på sociala medier till negativa emotionella reaktioner och försämrat välbefinnande. Studien undersökte hur exponering för idealiserade respektive vardagliga konsumtionsbilder relaterar till stress och ångest, samt vilken betydelse social jämförelse och användning av sociala medier har. Studien baserades på en experimentell mellangruppsdesign med två frågeställningar, fyra hypoteser och omfattade 92 deltagare, varav 78 kvinnor, fördelade mellan två betingelser. Resultaten visade att manipulationen var framgångsrik, men inga signifikanta skillnader påvisades mellan grupperna avseende stress eller ångest. Social jämförelse uppvisade samband med ångest, medan användning av sociala medier inte gjorde det. Resultaten diskuteras utifrån möjliga förklaringar där den korta exponeringen för bilderna kan ha bidragit till att tydligare emotionella effekter inte framträdde.

Anknytningsteorin beskriver hur tidiga relationserfarenheter formarindividens emotionsregleringsförmåga i nära relationer genom livet. Tidigareforskning visar att otrygga anknytningsdimensioner – anknytningsångest ochanknytningsundvikande – är associerade med emotionsregleringssvårigheter,men svenska studier är begränsade. Syftet var att undersöka i vilkenutsträckning anknytningsdimensionerna prediceraremotionsregleringssvårigheter i vuxenlivet, med kontroll för kön och ålder.Studien genomfördes som en tvärsnittsstudie med 106 vuxna deltagare (62 %kvinnor, ålder 22–77 år, M = 47.16) rekryterade via bekvämlighets- ochsnöbollsurval. Data samlades in via webbenkät med Experiences in CloseRelationships (ECR) och Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16). Analysen bestod av Pearsons korrelationer och hierarkisk multipelregressionsanalys. Resultaten visade positiva samband mellan bådaanknytningsdimensionerna och emotionsregleringssvårigheter.Anknytningsångest och anknytningsundvikande förklarade tillsammans 41,8% av variansen i emotionsregleringssvårigheter utöver kön och ålder (ΔR² =.418, p < .001). I den slutliga modellen var anknytningsångest den starkasteprediktorn (β = .57, p < .001), följt av anknytningsundvikande (β = .23, p =.002). Kön var en signifikant prediktor (β = .17, p = .020), där kvinnorskattade högre nivåer än män. Resultaten överensstämmer med tidigareinternationell forskning och stödjer anknytning som en central faktor föremotionsreglering även i en svensk vuxenpopulation.

Tystnadskultur på arbetsplatser kan ha en betydande inverkan på hur anställda uppfattar sitt arbete och relationen till den organisation de är en del av. Tidigare forskning har påvisat att faktorer som ledarskap, kommunikationsklimat och möjligheten att framföra åsikter spelar en avgörande roll för arbetsrelaterade attityder och beteenden. Studien syftade till att undersöka sambandet mellan upplevd tystnadskultur i relation till organisationstillhörighet, arbetstillfredsställelse och arbetsengagemang. Tystnadskulturen analyserades utifrån ledarnas attityder till tystnad, kommunikationsmöjligheter samt anställdas benägenhet att framföra sina åsikter. 270 yrkesverksamma deltog i studien genom en digital enkät. Insamlade data analyserades med hjälp av Pearsons korrelation och hierarkiska regressionsanalyser. Resultaten visade att såväl kommunikationsmöjligheter som ledarnas attityder gentemot tystnad hade tydliga samband med utfallsvariablerna organisationstillhörighet, arbetstillfredsställelse och arbetsengagemang. Bakgrundsvariablerna förklarade däremot endast en mindre del av variationen. Studien tyder på att organisatoriska förutsättningar som främjar öppen kommunikation och stödjande ledarskapsstilar är betydelsefulla för medarbetares attityder och upplevelser relaterade till arbetet.

Fysisk aktivitet har visat sig gynnsamt för fysisk och psykisk hälsa. Däremot finns en risk att omfattande mängder träning utvecklas från en hälsosam vana till något destruktivt. Trots fotbollens utbredning i Sverige saknas empiriskt underlag gällande fotbollsspelares träningsbeteenden. Syftet var att undersöka i vilken utsträckning tendenser till överdriven träning förekommer hos manliga fotbollsspelare, hur dessa samvarierar med kroppsbild, självkänsla och kostvanor samt hur variablerna predicerar överdriven träning. En enkät gällande träningsberoende, kroppsbild, självkänsla och kostvanor besvarades av 102 fotbollsspelare. Materialet analyserades med deskriptiv statistik, Spearman korrelationer samt en regressionsanalys. Resultatet visade att tendenser till överdriven träning förekom i hög grad. Detta samvarierade positivt med oro för kroppsfett och kostvanor. Kostvanor gav det starkaste bidraget till prediktionen av överdriven träning. Studien ger ett unikt bidrag till idrottspsykologisk forskning, genom att belysa dolda hälsorisker på amatörnivå och uppmanar till vidare forskning för ökad medvetenhet inom herrfotboll. 

In dialysis water purification reverse-osmosis (RO) systems, reliable treated-water production is necessary for safe and continuous hemodialysis operation. The existing pressure alarm at the studied facility detects membrane degradation only after much of the membrane's operating margin has already been lost, which reduces the opportunity for planned intervention and increases the risk of operational disruption. Seasonal variation in the feed-water temperature additionally masks the degradation signal in the raw sensor readings, so a methodology that separates the two effects is required. This thesis develops methods for early detection of membrane degradation based on sensor residuals and temperature compensation. Two univariate models apply a linear regression of pressure and flow against the feed-water temperature. Two multivariate Isolation Forest models extend the same approach to all 21 monitored sensors, one without temperature compensation and one with per-sensor temperature compensation.

The methodology was developed on a 2024 degradation cycle at the Rosenlund Hospital hemodialysis unit and replicated unchanged on a 2025-2026 cycle at the same facility. In both cycles, every model produced an early-warning signal weeks before the existing pressure alarm reached its operational threshold, and produced no false signals during the healthy membrane periods used to calibrate each model. The cycle 1 lead time was 24.57 weeks across all four models; cycle 2 lead times reached up to 6.71 weeks.

The multivariate Isolation Forest did not exceed the univariate baselines on lead time. A SHAP-based attribution analysis of the multivariate models showed that the apparent fault-related behavior of the second-stage feed-pressure sensor was heavily influenced by temperature, and that this effect differed between cycles. Temperature compensation reduced the sensor's fault-related attribution in cycle 1 (from 3.03× to 1.02× background activity) and amplified it in cycle 2 (from 3.23× to 4.04×). The methodology is intended as a supplement to the existing pressure alarm rather than as a replacement. The thesis contributes a case study of temperature-confound handling, interpretable fault detection, and cross-cycle replication in dialysis water-treatment infrastructure. The cross-cycle replication strengthens the within-facility conclusions, though the results remain limited to the studied plant.

The purpose of the study is to examine how social workers working with children and young people may experience secondary traumatization. Secondary traumatization is a condition that professionals can develop in their work with clients who have experienced traumatic or difficult events. Professionals may experience difficult emotions, thoughts, or physical symptoms as a result of listening to clients´ stories. To investigate this phenomenon, a qualitative methodological approach was taken, based on five semi-structured interviews. The result of this study shows that secondary traumatization occurs among social workers working with children and young people, and that several factors can increase and decrease the risk of experiencing this phenomenon. Identified risk factors include high workload, lack of time for recovery and reflection, limited control over the work situation, and complex cases. In addition to these risk factors, protective factors were identified, such as empowerment, peer support, and increased knowledge about secondary traumatization. The study also highlighted that coping strategies are useful for managing secondary traumatization. The result was thematized using thematic analysis, then analyzed in relation to previous research and three theoretical frameworks relevant to answering the purpose of the study. These theoretical frameworks were secondary traumatization, the demand-control-support model, and coping.

 This study examines how information design and interaction design can contribute to increased transparency and trust in AI-based decision-support systems within municipal urban planning processes, using DASH as an empirical case. The study is based on the assumption that users of AI tools need to understand how the system reasons, what data is used and how responses are generated in order to develop trust in the AI-system. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study using semi-structured interviews and think-aloud test to collect data. In total, data from five municipal officials participating in the study were analyzed. The analysis was carried out through a thematic analysis, where recurring themes related to transparency, trust, communication, human control and interactive features were identified. The result of the study shows that users’ experiences of transparency and trust are influenced by several information and interaction aspect. The factors that appeared particularly significant were transparent sourcing, explanations of the systems reasoning, confirming communication as well as visual and interactive features. Participants also expressed a need to verify the responses generated by the AI-system, indicating that AI is primarily perceived as an assistive tool rather than a system capable of fully replacing human judgement. Based on the results, a design proposal was also developed focusing on clarifying the AI-system’s underlying data, interpretation of the user’s questions and limitations. The study contributes insights into how information design and interaction design can be implemented to create more understandable and trustworthy AI-based decision-support systems within the public sector. 

This bachelor’s thesis investigates how a digital verification interface can be designed to support operator validation of AI-generated proposals within textile remanufacturing processes, such as microfactories. As automation increases, the operator’s role is shifting from manual and repetitive labor toward decision-making, which necessitates new requirements for how information is presented and perceived. The findings could indicate that effective verification interfaces should function as active decision support systems, where visual structure, transparency, and user control serve as central design principles to create comprehensible and reliable AI-supported systems in production environments.

This bachelor thesis examines how friction arises in a selected internal workflow involving multiple digital tools, and how this friction can be understood and reduced through user-centered design. The study is conducted in collaboration with the industrial company referred to in the report as Industrial Systems Group. The focus is the order flow between an internal order portal, an ERP system, a CRM system, and a packing function, as this workflow clearly illustrates how several systems, roles, and information points need to interact in everyday work.

The study is based on a qualitative approach and draws on semi-structured interviews combined with observations of actual workflows. The data collection includes employees from the after-sales department, as well as one paired interview from the purchasing department. The material has been analyzed thematically with the support of an affinity diagram, through which recurring patterns, pain points, and types of friction have been identified.

The findings show that friction in the workflow mainly arises in transitions between systems, in manual control steps, in reliance on person-dependent knowledge, and in situations where responsibility and structure are not sufficiently clear. The findings also indicate that the systems often work individually, but that the overall work becomes more demanding when information must be moved, verified, and followed up across several stages. The initial pre-study, which consisted of interviews, observations and thematic analysis, therefore points to the need for a more coherent workflow that reduces reliance on manual routines and makes the work easier to follow, understand, and hand over.

The main result of the thesis is a design framework that shows how friction in internal digital workflows can be identified, categorized, and translated into design principles, design requirements, and possible design decisions. A supporting prototype is used as a proof of concept to show how the framework’s principles can take form in a future interface. The prototype should therefore not be understood as a finished or production-ready solution, but as a conceptual visualization of how future workflow support could be structured. To avoid using sensitive business data, the prototype is based on synthetic data shaped by patterns and information needs identified in the pre-study.

This thesis conceptualizes cloneable automation and examines which attributes and prerequisites can make an automation solution possible to replicate across contexts with limited re engineering and remaining usable for its intended users. The study is based on an exploratory qualitative design guided by Design Research Methodology. The work combines a literature study with semi structured interviews with automation experts, two site visit at the case company, and recurring case related discussions. The final case oriented part of the thesis is treated as a prescriptive study, where the descriptive understanding is translated into tentative guidelines for PLC, robotics, and HMI.

The result shows that reuse in current automation practice already exists, but most often as partial reuse of base programs, libraries, HMI structures, and earlier concepts rather than as full instantiation of a finished solution. The most time consuming work is concentrated in PLC and software logic, robot application logic, communication and interface integration, HMI adaptation, commissioning, safety work, validation, and the installed base. The second site visit  material supports this result and also show that practical cloneability depends on company ownership of code and knowledge, mandatory documentation as part of the delivery workflow, reusable PLC and robot blocks, a stable core with bounded local variation through parameters and recipes, and standards that remain teachable and usable.

In this thesis, attributes define what cloneability is, while guidelines explain how those attributes can be operationalized in PLC, robot, and HMI design. The main conclusion is that cloneable automation is described as engineered reuse built around a stable, documented, bounded, and usable core rather than copy based reuse of duplicated artefacts.

This thesis investigates how Discrete Event Simulation (DES) can support internal logistics design and fleet size optimization in a new manufacturing facility during the concept design phase. The study addresses the challenge of dimensioning internal transport resources, such as forklifts and AMRs, when operational data are limited and the facility exists only as a CADbased layout. A mixed-method case study was conducted in collaboration with Volvo Construction Equipment. Interview data from forklift operators and a manager were used to estimate operational parameters such as loading and unloading times, vehicle speed, charging behaviour, task volume, and congestion effects. These inputs were combined with CAD-based process-time calculations and implemented in a DES model developed in FACTS Analyzer. Two alternative layout variants were evaluated: a Main Layout and a Footprint Reduction Layout. Scenario experiments were performed for different forklift and AMR fleet configurations, and the results were assessed using throughput, utilization, tasks completed per day, and bottleneck behaviour. The results show that increasing fleet size mainly reduces resource utilization, while annual throughput changes only marginally. For forklifts, the smallest tested configuration, 1 inbound forklift and 1 supermarket-area forklift, was sufficient to meet the modelled production target. For AMRs, one vehicle was sufficient under the tested assumptions. The simulation also showed that the Footprint Reduction Layout produced slightly different transport cycle times, but the effect on overall fleet requirements was limited. Bottleneck analysis indicated shifting constraints rather than one stable system bottleneck. The thesis concludes that DES is a useful decision-support tool for early-stage internal logistics planning in greenfield manufacturing environments. It helps identify minimum viable fleet configurations and shows that layout changes may affect local transport performance without necessarily changing overall system output. 

In today’s society, news is a constant stream of information in different media and on different platforms. From radio, to TV, to push notifications from apps, and on social media feeds. A majority of young people in Sweden spend a lot of their time online, specifically on social media. This has led to social media being one of the most prominent platforms for news for young people, with the most popular platform being Instagram. This essay explores how news graphics can be designed and adapted for a young target audience with Instagram as a platform in mind. Based on an environmental scanning, previous research, a survey, participatory design, theories on information graphics, data visualization, gestalt principles and tone of voice, a design proposal for how an Instagram post with news graphics in focus has been presented. The result shows that Instagram indeed is a frequently used platform for news amongst the target audience. By having the visual expression of the news graphics in mind, both in regards to the text and the images, it is possible to adapt complex data for both the target audience and the platform. This can be done by making sure that the data visualizations truly repeats the information in the text, which can be done partly by using a heading that summarizes the most important information. A distinct hierarchy and layout is also needed to make the information as clear as possible, which can be done by using the gestalt principles of similarity, proximity and common fate.

This study is a bachelor thesis in the field of Information design with focus on visualization and text design.

Storing information in a shared system is not the same as making it findable. In the pharmaceutical industry, findability in internal knowledge systems is a key prerequisite for using information as a basis for decision-making. This bachelor thesis investigates how a metadata-driven information architecture can be designed in Confluence Data Center to improve navigation and findability in an internal wiki. The study is conducted as a case study at MSD Nordic Medical and combines contextual interviews, a content inventory and audit, two usability tests (baseline and evaluation), and iterative prototyping. The design consists of directory pages, MK Home pages, and a restructured page tree, where Page Properties and Page Properties Report build a filterable metadata table per therapeutic area. In the evaluation test, SUS scores increased for all three participants (D1: +17.5, D2: +12.5, D3: +5) and times for directly comparable navigation tasks dropped by up to 80 percent. The directory page was understood at first interaction, but no participant chose it as the primary entry point during the free phase of the evaluation test. The study contributes with an example of how information architecture can be operationalized within a platform's built-in functions, and how structural consistency can affect perceived usability.

This study is a bachelor thesis in the field of Information design with focus on Interaction design.

This bachelor’s thesis investigates how information templates in the knowledge platform Confluence can be designed to support documentation and information overview within a research organization. The study was conducted in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and focused on users’ experiences of the existing information structure in Confluence.

Through artifact analysis, contextual interviews, prototyping, and usability testing, several issues related to inconsistent structure, extensive use of tables, unclear information hierarchy, and difficulties in edit mode were identified. The findings also indicated that users’ previous experiences and established work practices influenced how changes in the information structure were perceived.

Based on the findings, a design proposal was developed focusing on clearer information hierarchy, sectioning, visual separation, and improved editability. The study suggests that intuitive structure, user-centered design, and clearer guidance can contribute to improved information overview and more consistent information management in digital knowledge platforms.

This study investigates Swedish consumers' attitudes towards online behaviouraladvertising (OBA) in AI chatbots, with a focus on ChatGPT, and how theyperceive the visual presentation of such ads. Since ChatGPT is not yet available inSweden, the study is based on hypothetical reactions and materials that OpenAIhas published about the ads. Data were collected through a survey via Norstat(1010 respondents) and ten interviews.The results show generally low comfort and acceptance of OBA in AI chatbotsregardless of gender, age and education level, where discomfort with OBA in AIchatbots increases with age and women are less comfortable than men. Swedishconsumers express widespread distrust of AI chatbots and have misconceptionsabout OBA, but at the same time see a pragmatic value in the exchange of data forfree service.The most important criterias för acceptance of OBA in AI-chatbots, above all, arethat the service remains free, that data is not shared with third parties and that theads are clearly separated from the chatbot's responses. Based on the results, aredesign of the ad interface in ChatGPT and a set of design principles aimed atreducing consumer discomfort are presented.Key words: AI-chatbots, advertising, online behavioural advertising, informationdesign, interaction design. 

Background: Intimate partner violence is a global public health issue affecting women’s physical and mental health and their contact with healthcare services. Healthcare professionals have an important role in identifying and supporting exposed women within healthcare service. Aim: The aim was to describe women’s experiences of encounters from healthcare professionals within healthcare services in situations of intimate partner violence. Method: A general literature review was conducted based on twelve scientific articles, of which ten had a qualitative approach and two had a quantitative approach. The material was analyzed using an integrated analysis. Results: An empathetic, attentive, and respectful encounter was essential in creating safety and trust, increasing women’s willingness to disclose abuse. Deficiencies such as lack of time, knowledge, and engagement contributed to women feeling ignored or not believed. Organizational factors and the care environment also influenced women’s experiences. Conclusion: The encounter from healthcare professionals was significant for women’s experiences within healthcare in situations of intimate partner violence. A person-centered and empathetic approach, together with improved organizational conditions is important to strengthen quality of care and reduce suffering. Increased knowledge, clear guidelines, and organizational support are needed to improve healthcare professionals ability to provide safe and equitable care. 

This qualitative study examines how experienced social workers within Social services Individual- and family care management, understand and manage emotional demands in their everyday professional practice. The study is based on semi-structured interviews with five social workers and is analyzed through a thematic analysis using theories of emotional labour, coping and stress. The findings show that social workers experience high emotional strain related to clients vulnerability, heavy workloads, and organizational demands. At the same time, the work is described as meaningful and engaging. Collegial support, organizational guidelinesn and legislation are identified as important resources for managing the emotional distancing, boundary-setting, and prioritization to protect their well-being. However, the results indicate that these strategies are not always sufficient during prolonged stress and exercise workloads, which may contribute to emotional exhaustion and mental illness. The study highlights the interaction between individual coping strategies and organizational conditions within social work. 

Denna kvalitativa studie syftar till att undersöka hur socialarbetare som arbetar med verkställande av socialtjänstens insatser, upplever stress relaterat till teknik, dokumentation och organisatoriska förutsättningar. Resultatet arbetades fram genom fem semistrukturerade intervjuer där urvalet inkluderar en variation när det gäller ålder, kön och yrkeserfarenhet. Samtliga deltagare arbetar inom verksamheter som utför insatser på uppdrag av socialtjänsten, vilket innebär att de har erfarenhet av teknik, dokumentation och organisatoriska krav. Studiens resultat skiljer sig i flera avseenden från tidigare forskning. Den här studien visar en mer nyanserad bild, där deltagarna i stor utsträckning accepterar och hanterar dessa krav som en del av arbetet. Studien visar även på att bra arbetsförhållanden och organisatoriska förutsättningar, så som kollegial stöttning och närvarande chefer, utgör viktiga förutsättningar för ett hållbart socialt arbete. Resultatet indikerar ett behov av vidare forskning. Genom att studera liknande verksamheter i både privata och kommunala kontexter, samt genomföra jämförelser mellan olika kommuner, kan en mer fördjupad förståelse av förutsättningarna för ett hållbart socialt arbete utvecklas.

Background: In community home healthcare, nurses are responsible for providing care in patients’ homes, which requires independence and flexibility. During non-standard working hours, conditions are altered due to reduced staffing, increased responsibility, and limited support. Previous research indicates that the work is characterised by rapid clinical decision-making, reliance on communication and collaboration, as well as managing solitary work and workload. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how these factors are experienced in this specific context. Aim: The aim was to describe nurses’ experiences of working during non-standard working hours in community home healthcare. Method: A qualitative study with a descriptive design was conducted. Data were collected through a digital questionnaire with open-ended questions, answered by 30 nurses from seven healthcare units, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: The experiences were characterised by a clear duality. The work was experienced as meaningful and stimulating, where variation, acute assessments, and increased patient contact contributed to job satisfaction and professional development. At the same time, independent work entailed vulnerability in solitary work and complex situations. Communication and collaboration were essential for patient safety, while deficiencies in documentation and organisation could complicate the work. Conclusion: The experiences reflected a clear duality by a complex interplay between autonomy, responsibility and organizational conditions. Providing safe and person-centred care during non-standard working hours requires not only nurses’ competence, but also effective communication, access to support, and adequate organizational conditions. The findings indicate a need for organizational interventions to strengthen the work environment, patient safety and the conditions necessary for person-centred care during non-standard working hours.

Prokrastinering är vanligt bland universitetsstudenter och har i tidigare forskning kopplats till bristande självreglering, akademiska svårigheter och psykiskt obehag. Personlighet kan bidra till förståelsen av varför vissa studenter prokrastinerar mer än andra, särskilt personlighetsdrag som berör planering, uthållighet och emotionell stabilitet. Studien undersökte relationen mellan universitetsstudenters generella prokrastinering, samvetsgrannhet och neuroticism, samt i vilken utsträckning dessa personlighetsdrag kunde förklara variation i prokrastinering utöver kön och ålder. Totalt deltog 83 universitetsstudenter genom att besvara en enkät. Materialet analyserades med Pearsonkorrelationer och hierarkisk multipel regressionsanalys. Resultaten visade att samvetsgrannhet hade ett tydligt negativt samband med prokrastinering, medan neuroticism hade ett positivt samband. Efter kontroll för kön och ålder förklarade samvetsgrannhet och neuroticism ytterligare 42% av variationen i prokrastinering. Sammantaget tyder resultaten på att låg samvetsgrannhet är särskilt betydelsefull, medan neuroticismens roll framstår som mer begränsad, vilket pekar på att prokrastinering bör förstås i relation till struktur, målinriktning och fullföljande av handlingar.

Den här studien undersökte sambandet mellan utseenderelaterade morgonrutiner och psykiskt välbefinnande hos studenter på eftergymnasial nivå. Tidigare forskning har visat att utseenderelaterade beteenden kan påverkas av sociala normer, motivation och social jämförelse, men kunskapen om vardagliga morgonrutiner är fortfarande begränsad. Syftet med studien var att undersöka relationen mellan omfattningen av utseenderelaterade morgonrutiner, självkänsla, social ångest samt inre och yttre motivation. Studien hade en kvantitativ tvärsnittsdesign och genomfördes med hjälp av en enkätundersökning som omfattade 80 studenter vid ett universitet i Mellansverige. Resultaten visade att omfattningen av morgonrutiner inte hade något signifikant samband med självkänsla eller social ångest. Däremot var yttre motivation bakom morgonrutiner associerad med högre nivåer av social ångest. Vidare visade resultaten att social jämförelse och konformitet var positivt associerade med yttre motivation bakom morgonrutiner. Sammanfattningsvis tyder resultaten på att den bakomliggande motivationen till utseenderelaterade morgonrutiner kan ha större betydelse för studenters psykiska välbefinnande än själva omfattningen av rutinerna.

This thesis examines how information about cancer can be designed for children aged 6–9 in a way that makes it understandable and reassuring. The study is based on the observation that many parents find it difficult to communicate about serious illness with their children, while there is a limited range of informational materials that function both for the child and as support for adults in conversation. 

The theoretical framework consists of narrative theory, rhetoric, semiotics, and visual communication. The methods used include literature studies, an environmental scan of children’s books and informational materials, as well as semi-structured interviews with parents and a children’s book author. The design concept was also tested with three participants.

The results show that a combination of narrative structure, iconic illustrations, and fact-based information can contribute to creating material that is perceived as understandable and reassuring. By presenting information from the child’s perspective, using simple and concrete language and a calm visual expression, conditions are created for the child to process difficult information without experiencing unnecessary anxiety. The user tests also indicated that the material was perceived as clear and useful as support in conversations between adults and children.

The conclusion is that information about cancer can be made more accessible to children through stories told from the child’s perspective, relatable illustrations, and fact-based explanations. These elements help to make the information more concrete and easier for children to understand. 

This thesis explores how signs at open-air museums can be made readable and accessible so that visitors can understand their environment through them. The purpose is to see what design choices lessen the cognitive load and betters readability as well as the user experience. 

From a semiotic and cognitive standpoint the theories text and image relation, image as a language, gestalt principles, chunking and readability have been used. The methods environmental analysis, survey study and interview have also been used to get an overview over the organisations observations as well as the observations of earlier visitors and myself. Moodboards and sketches have formed the basis to carry the design process forward and grounded theory has been used to gather common notions and key points in the project. User tests have been carried out to test the projects sign prototypes. 

The result proved that text and image relation works well for learning and cognition in readers. It also proved that availability increases when tactile or audible alternatives exist as complements to text and image. User tests has proved rewarding for the project, since the prototypes could be tested in a museum environment.

This study is a bachelor thesis in the field of Information design with focus on Visualization and text design.

Det finns stora mängder driftdata inom energi och vattensektorn från diverse tekniska system, denna data används dock inte alltid fullt ut för exempelvis analys eller beslutsstöd. Detta examensarbete utforskar detta område genom analys av förbrukningsdata hos avloppsvattenpumpar och gör det i samarbete med Mälarenergi. Syftet med arbetet har varit att undersöka hur verksamhetens råa förbrukningsdata från dessa pumpar kan struktureras och analyseras för att identifiera avvikande förbrukningsmönster samt undersöka möjligheten att förutsäga framtida pumpförbrukning.

Arbetet fokuserar på ett urval av sex avloppsvattenpumpar och bygger på historisk data under perioden 2022 till 2026. Arbetet har utförts i flera steg där data har bearbetades, standardiserades och sedan analyserades separat för varje pump. För att analysen av pumpförbrukningen skulle bli mer nyanserad användes även tidsbaserade, väderrelaterade och historikbaserade variabler. Arbetet inkluderade anomalidetektion, vilket genomfördes med Isolation Forest för att identifiera avvikande mönster i datamängden utan tillgång till etiketterad driftdata. Arbetet kompletterades även med en prognosmodell baserad på XGBoost för att undersöka om framtida förbrukning kunde uppskattas utifrån historiska mönster.

Utifrån analysernas resultat visade det sig att avvikande förbrukningsmönster kunde identifieras på flertalet tidsnivåer exempelvis timmar, dygn, veckor, månader, årstider och helgdagar. I flera fall visade analysen även att anomalier sammanföll med specifika sammanhang exempelvis med tidsmönster och nederbörd. För perspektivet med prognosmodellen visade resultaten att förutsägelser av kommande förbrukning i flera fall kunde följa det övergripande förbrukningsmönstret, dock varierade träffsäkerheten mellan de olika pumparna. Sammantaget visar arbetet att maskininlärning kan användas för att skapa ökad förståelse för pumpförbrukning och kan fungera som ett beslutsstöd, men att resultaten bör tolkas som indikationer snarare än bekräftade driftfel eller ett färdigt styrsystem.

Våldsoffer ska enligt lag erbjudas stöd. Inom ideella organisationer agerar volontärer stödpersoner för människor i behov av stöd efter våldsutsatthet. Syftet med studien är att undersöka erfarenheter och upplevelser från stödpersoner som mött våldsutsatta män i egenskap av stödperson. Semistrukturerade intervjuer med stödpersoner inom Brottsofferjouren Sverige står för studiens empiri. Stödpersonerna har kunnat berätta om hur de upplever det manliga våldsoffret och dess behov samt vilka begränsningar de stöter på vid arbetet med och kring dessa människor. Studien har gjorts genom abduktiv ansats med socialkonstruktionistisk teoretisk grund. Vidare har empirin analyserats mot teorier om maskulinitet och offerskap för att tolka resultaten.

Resultaten visar på en komplex uppfattning av mannen som våldsoffer. Han uppfattas ha behov av stöd men att det finns svårigheter i att prata om emotionella processer och att söka stöd. Det finns även en rädsla om att inte bli trodd i sitt offerskap. Samtidigt visar resultaten på att mannen som våldsoffer även ses inneha ett våldskapital som skapar en dualitet. Begränsningar upptäcktes kopplat till kompetensen att möta våldsutsatta män, där stödpersoner upplever att de inte kan härleda dessa personer till mer kompetensspecifik verksamhet.

Denna studie syftar till att undersöka hur lärare i årskurs F–3 arbetar med flerspråkiga elever, vilka strategier de använder samt vilka möjligheter och utmaningar de upplever. Studien bygger på en kvalitativ metod där fem semistrukturerade intervjuer med verksamma lärare genomfördes och analyserades tematiskt. Resultatet visar att lärarna använder bildstöd, repetition, begreppsarbete och digitala verktyg för att stödja elevernas språk- och kunskapsutveckling. Lärarna ser flerspråkighet som en resurs, men beskriver samtidigt utmaningar såsom tidsbrist och begränsad tillgång till språkhandledare. Slutsatsen är att flerspråkighet kan vara en viktig tillgång i undervisningen, men att lärarna behöver mer resurser och stöd för att fullt ut kunna ta tillvara elevernas språkliga resurser.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur förskollärare förhåller sig till anknytningsskapande i förskolan. Det är en kvalitativ studie där vi samlat in material med semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien analyseras i ett anknytningsteoretiskt perspektiv med centrala begrepp ur anknytningsteorin. I resultatet påvisas att förskollärare ser anknytningsskapande som en grund för förskolans utbildning. Förskollärarna beskriver hur de ser på anknytningsskapande, samt visar på strategier för att skapa anknytning till barnen. Studiens slutsats är att anknytning har en avgörande roll i förskolan.

Background: Palliative care aims to promote health and well-being in terminal illnesses and at the end of life. The design of palliative care may vary depending on the patient's illness and individual needs, as well as the needs of family members. Nurses have a responsibility to ensure that good care is offered to involved parties and to collaborate to create good care environments. Purpose: To describe nurses' experiences of working in palliative care. Method: A general literature review was conducted. Ten articles were included, seven qualitative and three quantitative. Results: Three themes emerged in the results: Nurses' experiences of the work environment, where experiences of being overworked affected the quality of care. Nurses' views on the need for education, where the need for increased education in palliative care emerged. Nurses' experiences of meetings with relatives and patients, where their needs and impact on care emerged. Conclusion: Nurses experienced work-related stress linked to the work environment, where the need for improved communication was identified as a prerequisite for increasing the quality of care for patients and relatives. At the same time, a need to strengthen clinical competence and emotional preparedness emerged. Nurses' experiences of meetings with relatives and patients regarding the need for emotional support and participation were also experienced as central factors for strengthening the care relationship and enabling increased quality of care.

Keywords: Experiences, literature review, nurses, palliative care, patients, relative

Background: The prevalence of chronic wounds has increased in recent years, which can be related to an ageing population and an increased prevalence of multimorbidity. Chronic wounds have a significant impact on patients' lives in multiple aspects and constitute a complex healthcare challenge that requires nurses to be provided with adequate conditions to deliver high-quality wound care. Aim: To describe nurses' perceived experiences of wound care for patients with chronic wounds in home healthcare. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional study in which data were collected through a digital questionnaire, completed by 63 registered nurses from 62 different home healthcare providers. The data were compiled in Excel, and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: The majority experienced sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge, as well as organizational conditions to provide wound care. At the same time, shortcomings were identified regarding clear routines and guidelines, documentation support, access to assistive devices, and interprofessional collaboration. Nurses with longer professional experience more often experienced sufficient time and experience, whereas nurses with shorter professional experience more frequently perceived organizational support. Conclusion: There are both limiting and enabling conditions for nurses to provide wound care in home healthcare. Furthermore, comparisons between nurses with shorter and longer professional experience showed that the perception of these conditions differs between the groups in certain respects. 

Keywords: Chronic wounds, home healthcare, quantitative method, wound care.

The purpose of this essay is to examine how social workers experience their competence and discretion in working with clients who exhibit hypersexual behaviors. Hypersexuality is a stigmatized and understudied phenomenon characterized by shame, taboos, and conceptual ambiguity. The essay was conducted using a qualitative method in which five semi-structured interviews were carried out with social workers working within KAST, probation services, HVB, and private treatment.

The collected material has been analyzed through thematic analysis with support from previous research, Aristotle's concepts of knowledge episteme, techne, and phronesis, as well as Lipsky's theory of discretion. The results show that social workers' competence is largely based on experience-based knowledge and professional judgment, rather than on scientific and formal knowledge about hypersexuality.

Furthermore, it emerges that treatment, relationships, and safety are crucial success factors in working with the client group. The discretion is experienced as both broad and limited, where legal, organizational, and normative factors interact with clients' shame and stigma. The study highlights the need for increased knowledge development, clearer structures, and continued organizational support in social work directed towards individuals exhibiting hypersexual behaviors.