The focus of the thesis is an information search technique called manual query expansion, which aims to improve the retrieval per-formance in a search system by adding terms to the search query. The study looks at the query expansions done by LIS students, and the eventual beneficial effects by using a search help during the search process. The Empirical data have been collected thro-ugh an experiment, with an experiment group as well as a control group. The conclusion is that the students need more education in query expansion in order to be able to use it correctly. There are significant differences between the groups in several aspects, for example in the use of search terms, parentheses, and truncation.

My thesis is an attempt to clarify the purpose and workings of art in relation to the artist, his/her fellows and society. Can art be considered as a uniting force? If so, where does its unifying quality lie? How does art connect with the individual, the community and society? My interpretation of the political climate regarding the arts has resulted in an exploration of the question: What role does art have in society today?The artistic ego as an altruism ? within the title of this thesis lies an absolute paradox ? a paradox that through this paper is tested, reviewed and demonstrated as a way of describing art and its workings. The thesis is problematized and studied from several angles: Through the inner artistic process, both reflective and Empirical, and through philosophical studies..

Background: Having chosen to take a degree in international business, we have had many opportunities to meet people from different cultures. These encounters have, we believe, made our lives richer, but they have not always been problem-free. When different cultures come together, the differences inevitably become apparent. Being among friends, one can maybe laugh at these differences or it may be a good opportunity to get people to talk to each other, taking the time to explain why they do things a certain way. Being at work and experience these differences might not at all have the same ice-breaking effect - rather the opposite sometimes.

The purpose of current paper is to identify the differences (ifany) between Swedish and Turkish consumers in terms ofproduct design perception and to identify the differences toproduct design in relating the four dimensions / characteristics:1.Aesthetical attractiveness, 2.Functionality, 3.Value and4.Quality.The findings of the study indicate the existence of a universal perception of design. Despite the culturally different countries that are examined the Empirical material consistently display similarities between the two countries. Both the quantitative and qualitative data point to a very similar perception in terms of design. The possibilities of global design are discussed for companies as well as managerial implications and future research..

During the past few years a vast amount of research has been done to increase the understanding of the complex ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. Modelling and simulations are important tools to increase knowledge of the system. A suitable model must be simple to use and the parameters and variables needed in the model must be easy to access.In this paper a dynamical mass-balance model, CoastMab, which is validated for smaller coastal areas, has been used to predict concentrations and transports of phosphorus in three large coastal areas - the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Gdansk and the Gulf of Riga. CoastMab uses ordinary differential equations to regulate inflow, outflow and internal flows. To reflect seasonal variations in temperature and different types of flows the model has a temporal resolution of a month.

Over the past 20 years, retailers have embraced new international trends, which created a strong economic growth. Experiences are one of the trends that will be a significant part of future retail. The purpose of this thesis is to find components that can provide a positive experience in a clothing store to the customer. We have used a qualitative method with an inductive approach and the Empirical data is collected through interviews. Literature we have chosen focus on how an experience is created in clothing stores.

This bachelor thesis in science Informatics contains the qualifications for the applying of IT in education for students in elementary school, grade 1-3. By Empirical case study on an existing elementary school, whose success on IT use is noticed, describes how to apply IT in the classroom in an adequate way. We look at different theoretical frameworks in interaction and design of systems designed for learning purposes, and satisfies their specific needs and situations within the classroom's four walls. The current lack of statistical measurements on students' results and effects of the use of IT in teaching, prevents further improvements. If we simultaneously work to develop more well-designed systems that are designed for this purpose, it is possible that the effects become more and better.

This study aims to find possible effects from the use of Voice over internet protocol software together with computer gaming on young adults English output. The study also tries to find effects of media usage on output and if there exists differences between boys and girls. This is done through analysis based on data collected from 28 informants, age 16-18. The data consists of recordings of individual stories coupled with a survey. The Empirical data is analyzed in both quantitative and qualitative way.

In the rate of changes condition of the market in shape of increasing competitiveness situation, local as global, this leads to that logistics has to be developed in the same rate. Logistics has been developed from the military and after the war, logistics was figurative to the companies transport- and store problems. After this, logistics had been divided up into four different time phases (the seventies to the 21:th century). All these time phases have together develop the spectacle and focus of the logistics today. Afterward further developing of the logistics approach to Supply Chain Management (SCM) and afterward SCM, Demand Chain Management (DCM) was developed in aim to secure that the right products were manufactured on the basis of the end customers real requirement and wishes.This paper is taking the aim and problem formulation as a starting point.

During the latest 50 years, the Swedish porcelain tableware industry has gone from being rather successful to experience significant problems. Our Empirical study attributes these problems to underlying changes in consumer buying behaviour, whereas current generation theory supports our findings. The younger generation has significantly different preferences compared to older generations, with less focus on quality and more focus on variability, and there is reason to believe that these findings also are applicable to other consumer purchases. The successful porcelain companies of tomorrow will be the ones that continuously can adapt to these and further changes in consumer buying behaviour..

The purpose of this paper is to examine how gender is created in the Administrative Court´s application of care of Young Persons (Special Provisions) Act. The theoretical starting point is the gender perspective. My Empirical work consists of 27 court cases from 2010 and 2011. These are investigated for common themes by a qualitative content analysis. The result and analysis consist of four court cases representing one theme each.

This study provides a Construction-Grammar analysis of Swedish pseudo-coordination construction with the verbs gå "go" and ta "take" on the basis of an examination of Empirical data. Factors bringing about different readings of gå and ta pseudocoordinations are discussed, showing that the readings correlate with certain semantic properties of the first and the second conjunct. Three distinct pseudocoordinations with gå are proposed, differing as to their readings: inceptive, surprising and imperfective. The single ta pseudocoordination is claimed to have both inceptive and intentional readings. It is illustrated that the readings of gå and ta pseudocoordinations are affected not only by inherent lexical properties of single conjuncts but also by their interaction with construction-level characteristics.

This paper reports from a study looking at teacher?s and student?s apprehensions regarding rubrics. The idea to research this specific subject stems from our interest in this phenomenon due to our education and curiosity about how rubrics are apprehended and not about how they are used or described. To explore this area we have used Empirical material compiled through interviews. The analysis is done by creating categories containing various apprehensions expressed in the material through different characterizations of the phenomenon called rubrics.

In today?s business environment, cost-cutting practices such as downsizing and layoffs remains a widespread phenomenon. Although, the understanding of the effects that these practices has on the remaining individuals, defined as the survivors, is poor. The focus in this paper is therefore to examine how survivors of layoffs can be affected on an individual level, and by what causes.The study was conducted using open-ended, qualitative interviews with three individuals with different experiences of layoffs. The Empirical data was analyzed by extracting quotations from the interviews.The study found that layoffs affected the morale and attitude towards management of the individual, and that perceived justice and uncertainty are two causes of negative effects from layoffs..

China is one of the fastest growing markets of today and attracts billions of dollars in foreign direct investments. Swedish companies have not been late to follow and operate on the Chinese market driven by opportunities in sales, production, and sourcing. However, there has been limited research made on how and why Swedish companies extend their sourcing efforts in China. By combining research within the internationalization of export activities, concepts from global sourcing, and gathered Empirical data from leading Swedish companies operating in China, the thesis develops a framework for analyzing the internationalization process of sourcing in China..