What kind of international actor is the European Union and how shall we define it? These are questions that many have tried to answer often by addressing the apparent uniqueness of the EU itself. One of these theories is Normative power Europe. A theory whose main argument is that the EU is best perceived as a changer of norms. My aim with this thesis is to test this claim and to see if the Union should be regarded as a normative power.

The purpose of the study is to highlight the issue of student loans securitization, and assure the importance and benefits that could be realized by performing such a transaction. The methodology is a case study for The National Board of Student Aid. It is a qualitative study, mainly using interviews, literature and scientific articles. By using this information we construct a securitization transaction structure ?CSN 2006-1?, and conduct a cost/benefit analysis.

The intention is to focus on the implementation of the tablet in preschools and how the intentions around the introduction of the tablet take shape in different preschools. The method is semi structured interviews where the respondents consist of 3 preschool directors and 6 teachers where the preschool directors work. This is a relevant subject to illustrate, as the tablet has become a tool in preschool where it seems to be different opinions about how it should be used. This study aims to understand how the implementation can take form in different preschools, what kind of similarities and differences we can see with the intentions of the tablet and if there is need of clarification on the workings of the tablets in preschools. The results show that the intentions around the introduction of the tablet in preschool look different in the preschools, and the implementation of this new technology starts in a small scale with help of photographing and videotaping.

The number of parties in the Swedish parliament has increased from five to eight during the last twenty years. The political agenda is still based on a two-block system with the consequences that the number of parties in each block has increased. To be represented in the parliament, a party needs at least four per cent of the total votes in the election. If only one party fails to achieve that, the whole block will lose the election to the other block. This could encourage voters to vote tactically for the small parties in the block to ensure that the block wins the election.

Value-at-Risk (VaR) is among financial institutions a commonly used tool for measuring market risk. Several methods to calculate VaR exists and different implementations often results in different VaR forecasts. An interesting implementation is historical simulation, and the purpose of this thesis is to examine whether historical simulation with dynamic volatility updating is useful as a model to calculate VaR and how this differs in regard to type of asset or instrument. To carry out the investigation six different models are implemented, which then are tested for statistical accuracy through Christoffersens test. We find that incorporation of volatility updating into the historical simulation method in many cases improves the model.

The purpose of our essay is to develop an understanding and an insight for the fashion industry. We want to examine what the creative industries can learn from the unique position that fashion hold in a field between commercialization and art. We used a theoretical ground to enlarge our understanding for the distinctive place that fashion holds. To gain further insight in the fashion industry we complete the theory with empirical facts. The empirical facts were collected through a qualitative method with deep-going interviews.

This study aims to explore how self scanning affects consumers impulse buying. Up til this day researchers are not aware how technologies like self scanning affects consumers behavior in-store. Consumers with self scanners are able to keep track of the rising sum, which could affect their buying behavior, especially when it comes to impulse purchase. Furthermore customers have to commit to scanning products which keep them from browsing the store for offers, which could limit the impulse buying. This study undertake a descriptive methodology with Beatty and Ferrells impuls model from 1998 as a theoretical platform where we examine disparities between self scanners and non self scanners.

Bright Chest of DrawersThis project derives from a fascination of spaces which withonly light and shadow withhold a narrative value, which createsemotions and experiences with a minimum of objects. Iwanted to invesitigate light and lighting, and create a productthat can change the mood and experience of a spatial enviromentwith light. Questions I asked myself was: How do I relateto the spatial limitations that arise? How can I, with light asmy tool, give form to an immaterial value or state of mind?Will the object that illuminates be the most important factorof communication and meaning when I want to tell a story, oris it the light itself?The result became a chest of drawers that is lighted up frominside when you open the drawers. It serves a function as a unitfor storage of objects, but also makes us reflect of the importanceof objects, of how we define a spatial enviroment, andwhat we consider as private spaces in our home..

This thesis introduces Kongjian Yu?s design approach in terms of industrial heritage conservation in connection to transformation and urban design. The approach is examined respectively on two cases from China and USA. The thesis give a brief introduction to current achievement in conservation research and general profile of industrial conservation practice. Based on case and theory study, Yu?s design approach is carefully applied to an industrial area Nyhamnen in Malmö and a design proposal is produced.

Companys usually have intern communication platforms where employees can gather information and communicate with eachother. These networks are not public which leads to less resources spent on development. If this network is also used as a work tool may inadequate usability decrease work effeciency. Thats why we, by using known design principles, evaluated an already existing network of this kind along with interviews and think out loud tasks for users. Four users had to do some tasks while they explained how they went through step by step to solve those. This report culminates into a couple of guidelines which can be used to create a user friendly network. The problems that prevented users to feel in control when working resulted in the following guidelines: Create shortcuts of frequently used functions.

A personality test is a useful tool in recruitment contexts. Studies have shown that participants distort their answers in a socially desirable manner. The purpose of this study was to investigate if people respond more or less socially desirable depending on how they rate themselves in a personality test, based on the "big five" personality dimensions.Eighty people, (40 women and 40 men), 19-42 years, (M= 24,1 SD= 3,76) rated themselves on a personality test. Group one, (20 women and 20 men) completed the test on paper. Group two, (20 women and 20 men) completed the test verbally.

[?If we zigzag in the middle, it?s OK?] The purpose of the following study is to examine the relationship between tourism and religion in a Balinese context. We look specifically at changes in religious practice, culture and mentality, as well as how religious philosophy is used as a tool for limiting the negative impact of tourism. The methods used are semi-structured interviews and participant observations. Central themes in the following essay are globalization in the form of tourism, westernization, subsystem theory and capitalism, which also make up the theoretical framework.

The degree project aims to gain a deeper understanding of how pedagogues are working with pedagogical documentation, as well as the significance of reflection in the educational work with children.The survey was implemented on two Reggio Emilia-inspired preschools and is based on a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with open questions, where six pedagogues shared how they view the pedagogical documentation.The study is seen from an epistemological perspective. The results show that pedagogues place great emphasis on reflection as a tool for a visibility of children´s learning and development. Pedagogues respond to children´s questions with a question at issue to challenge the children to develop their own hypotheses for problem solving.Keywords, pedagogical documentation, reflection, learning process..

In this essay I reflect on a situation where I as a preschool teacher amworried about a child whose behavior I cannot understand nor recognize. The situation is characterized by the fact that I cannot explain my worries to my colleagues. I also discuss why different pedagogues understand the same situation differently, the importance of children´s play and how it creates opportunities to social interactionThrough my reflections I can understand my concern and show that it is justified.  I also discuss the act of reflection as a method. Reflecting is a way to increase or knowledge. But I also claim that reflection might be used collectively by reflecting together we might increase our shared understanding and also find out how to proceed with our common work.The conclusion is that reflection is an important tool for us pedagogues when we want to increase our understanding and our knowledge.

Social media has changed the way that corporations can communicate with their target groups. Instead of using one?way communications that has been significant for traditional massmarketing, social media has given corporations the possibility to truly interact with their clients and through the interaction build strong relationships. The interaction is an ideal process for corporations to create brand associations and strengthen their brand equity to position their brands in the minds of the consumers. But social media is also a devious medium because everyone are invited to contribute their opinion and news travel fast in social atmosphere, success and crisis can appear fast and out ofnowhere.