"Our aim is to challenge this conventional wisdom". Luokkatutkimuksen keskusteluja Sosiologia-lehdessä ja British Journal of Sociologyssa 1970–2010

Tutkielmani aiheena on sosiologisen luokkatutkimuksen erot ja vaiheet Suomessa ja Iso-Britanniassa neljän vuosikymmenen aikana. Keskeinen tutkimuskysymykseni on, minkälaisia muutoksia suomalaisessa ja brittiläisessä luokkatutkimuskeskustelussa on tapahtunut vuosina 1970–2010, ja miten maiden sisäiset painotukset sosiologisessa luokkatutkimuksessa eroavat toisistaan. Empiirinen tutkimusaineisto koostuu suomalaisen Sosiologian ja brittiläisen British Journal of Sociologyn vuosina 1970–2010 julkaistuista luokkatutkimusartikkeleista. Tarkastelen aineistoani ja sen diskursseja luokasta Foucault'n tiedonarkeologista tutkimusotetta soveltaen. Historian keskeisyys kyseisessä lähestymistavassa sopii tämän tutkimuksen historialliseen tutkimusasetelmaan. Tiedonarkeologinen näkökulma erottuu diskurssianalyysin perinteistä siten, että se ei ole kiinnostunut esimerkiksi kirjoittajien positioinnista erilaisiin valta-asemiin, vaan teksteistä sekä niiden suhteista toisiinsa ja historialliseen tekstien jatkumoon. Haasteelliseksi tutkimukselle osoittautui mm. luokkatutkimuksen rajaaminen foucault'laisittain niin, että saataisiin tutkittavien diskurssien kokonaisuus ja suhteet esiin mahdollisimman hyvin. Diskurssien muutosten ohella olen myös tarkastellut luokkatutkimuksen artikkelimäärien prosentuaalista osuutta kaikista tutkimusartikkeleista vuosittain. Tuloksissa näkyy joitakin eroja maiden välillä, mutta osaksi myös samankaltaisia kehityskulkuja. Muutoksia näkyy esimerkiksi keskustelujen luokkateoreettisissa painotuksissa ja puheessa luokan selitysvoimasta.

Ikääntyvien työkyky ja työkykyä ylläpitävä toiminta, case Stora Enson Anjalankosken tehtaat

Työkyky koostuu psyykkisestä, sosiaalisesta ja fyysisestä osa-alueesta. Psyykkinen osa-alue koostuu jaksamisesta, sitoutumisesta, vuorovaikutuksesta sekä osaamisesta eli siis lähinnä yksilön ominaisuuksista, kun taas sosiaaliseen työkykyyn vaikuttavat myös työyhteisön jäsenet, työympäristö sekä organisaatiokulttuuri. Fyysinen työkyky koostuu pääosin niistä fyysisen toimintakyvyn ominaisuuksista, joita työn suorittamisessa tarvitaan. Toimintakyky määrittää myös sosiaalista ja psyykkistä työkykyä, siltä osin kun sitä tarvitaan työstä selviytymisessä. Ikääntyminen asettaa haasteita mutta myös mahdollisuuksia työkyvylle. Selkeintä heikkeneminen on fyysisellä osa-alueella, kun taas sosiaalisen ja psyykkisen osa-alueen heikkeneminen ei yleensä näy työiässä. Päinvastoin, ikääntymisen on todettu parantavan esim. sosiaalisia taitoja ja lisäävän arkipäivän viisautta.Työkykytoiminnalla pyritään ylläpitämään työkykyä tai ehkäisemään tai korjaamaan työkyvyn alenemaa. Se voi kohdistua yksilöön, työyhteisöön tai koko organisaatioon. Toiminnan onnistuminen edellyttää kaikkien organisaation tai työyhteisön jäsenten osallistumista ja sitoutumista toimintaan, ja onnistuneen työkykytoiminnan seurauksena hyötyvät työntekijän ja yrityksen lisäksi yhteiskunta. Työkykytoiminnan keinoja ovat työn, yksilön, esimiestyön sekä työyhteisön kehittäminen.Stora Enson Anjalankosken tehtailla toteutettiin kolmevuotinen ikääntyvien työkykyprojekti, jonka tavoitteena oli työ- ja toimintakykyä parantamalla ehkäistä ennenaikaista eläköitymistä ja säilyttää ikääntyvien hiljainen tieto mahdollisimman pitkään yrityksessä. Projektin jäsenien työkyky oli jo varsin korkea jo projektin alussa, mutta se onnistuttiin pitämään ikääntymisestä huolimatta korkealla tasolla projektin aikana. Projektin jäseniin kohdistuneen tutkimuksen perusteella tärkeimmäksi työkyvyn määrittäjäksi nousivat työtehtävät tai paremminkin niiden soveltuminen yksilön tarpeisiin, kykyihin ja arvostuksiin.

Bell Hooksin vapauttava kasvatus vie hiljaisen tiedon äärelle

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

En gestaltning av individens erfarenhetsbaserade kunskap inom diabetesvården

The aim of this study is to form the experience-based knowledge of diabetics. The broader intent is to be able to transform this experience-based knowledge as an asset within caring. In this study, a theoretical contact for the empirical data is presented through phronesis, i.e. practical wisdom. Phronesis can be seen as the most suitable form of knowledge to be able to deepen the individual's understanding of experiencebased knowledge. For this research, hermeneutic phenomenology was chosen. Abductive reasoning was the method chosen to approach the data collected through repeated deep interviews with individuals with personal experience of diabetes and the use of insulin pumps. The abductive approach fascilitates a broader interpretation of the primary empirical results via a theory of philosophy of science, such as phronesis, the life-world and the negativity of the experience. The latent message of the empirical data is thereby also additionally highlighted. The synthesis reveals that experience-based knowledge arrives with time, it is personified and praxis-oriented, and before this time, the knowledge and security must be provided by the established care, by people close to the individual or by other external sources. The experience-based knowledge has strenghts and weaknesses. The knowledge is further categorized by the individual's ability to discern and make judgement. Additionally, the experience-based kowledge is a reflecting and action-based knowledge striving to improve the care provided. The experience-based knowledge held by the individual is potentially a great instrument towards improving general knowledge with possible practical applications within the diabetic care. Furthermost, in practical suggestions to fascilitate care. In generally applying knowledge gathered from the individual's experiental point of view, there are inherent risks. These risks could potentially be eliminated through the adoption of a concept where the established care could function as a quality guarantor. A concept taking into account the experiencebased knowledge as a source of information and knowledge in the care for diabetics. Co-created knowledge and understanding is a position found in both self-care and pump-treatment. It is also found through the optimal application of the experience-based knowledge of the individual as well as the knowledge found within the established care, in order to fascilitate well-being. This as expressed by the individual's phronesis-based knowledge.

Applications of Industrial Statistics

This dissertation examines knowledge and industrial knowledge creation processes. It looks at the way knowledge is created in industrial processes based on data, which is transformed into information and finally into knowledge. In the context of this dissertation the main tool for industrial knowledge creation are different statistical methods. This dissertation strives to define industrial statistics. This is done using an expert opinion survey, which was sent to a number of industrial statisticians. The survey was conducted to create a definition for this field of applied statistics and to demonstrate the wide applicability of statistical methods to industrial problems. In this part of the dissertation, traditional methods of industrial statistics are introduced. As industrial statistics are the main tool for knowledge creation, the basics of statistical decision making and statistical modeling are also included. The widely known Data Information Knowledge Wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy serves as a theoretical background for this dissertation. The way that data is transformed into information, information into knowledge and knowledge finally into wisdom is used as a theoretical frame of reference. Some scholars have, however, criticized the DIKW model. Based on these different perceptions of the knowledge creation process, a new knowledge creation process, based on statistical methods is proposed. In the context of this dissertation, the data is a source of knowledge in industrial processes. Because of this, the mathematical categorization of data into continuous and discrete types is explained. Different methods for gathering data from processes are clarified as well. There are two methods for data gathering in this dissertation: survey methods and measurements. The enclosed publications provide an example of the wide applicability of statistical methods in industry. In these publications data is gathered using surveys and measurements. Enclosed publications have been chosen so that in each publication, different statistical methods are employed in analyzing of data. There are some similarities between the analysis methods used in the publications, but mainly different methods are used. Based on this dissertation the use of statistical methods for industrial knowledge creation is strongly recommended. With statistical methods it is possible to handle large datasets and different types of statistical analysis results can easily be transformed into knowledge.

The Role of a firm’s mindset in international success - case study of Finnish marine industry firms

This thesis investigates the influence of a firm’s mindset on international success in the context of the Finnish marine industry. The study draws theoretical wisdom from organisational behaviour and strategic management literatures. The research aim set for this study was to identify and categorise existing strategic types based on mindsets found in the marine industry SMEs, and to link the influence of mindsets with success by examining the role of mindsets in a firm’s performance. Mindsets of firms were conceptualised as aggregate collections of perceptions that influence how the surrounding environment is discerned by the members of the firm. Mindsets are idiosyncratic to firms and therefore important firm-specific resources which influence decision-making and can be observed through the strategic behaviour of firms. Qualitative case study method was applied which was further supported by quantitative data on the financial performance of the ten case firms. Taxonomy based on the dimension of mindsets and prediction was developed to demonstrate four ideal types of firms identified within the marine industry. It was found that all of the case firms emphasised adaptation in their strategy while planning was emphasised to a varying degree. Moreover, two different methods of adapting were found; proactive and reactive. Firms which plan in the long-term and adapt proactively constantly investigate whether their plans are synchronous with the realities of the market; by having an open mindset, a firm’s perception of the reality of the market is enabling the firm to develop value creating strategies which are superiorly informed.This finding was supported by the financial data and led to the proposition that having an open mindset and placing a high level of emphasis on prediction may have a positive influence on international success. Also, it was proposed that concentrating only on exploiting business opportunities in the present time and not exploring any addition opportunities can have a negative influence on the firm’s performance, even if the mindset of the firm is open.

Serva ad ministrare : tjänandets ethos i vårdledarskap

Avhandlingen syftar till att ur ett vårdvetenskapligt perspektiv beskriva och upptäcka tjänandets meningsinnehåll samt fördjupa förståelsekunskap om tjänandets ethos i förhållande till vårdledarskap med en inriktning på det vårdadministrativa. Syftet är även att skapa en idealmodell som öppnar för en ny eller annorlunda förståelsehorisont för tjänandets ethos i vårdledarskap. Kunskapssökandet sker genom följande delstudier: (1) I begreppsbestämningen genomförs begreppsanalyser av tjäna och tjänst med avsikt att öppna för en grundförståelse och tankestruktur i forskningsuppgiften. (2) I det idéhistoriska spåras tjänandets ontologiska arv och idémönster fram genom tolkning av historiska källornas texter från 1900-talets första hälft i ljuset av sjuksköterskeledarskap utgående från Sophie Mannerheims, Bertha Wellins och Bergljot Larssons idéer och tankeströmningar. (3) Sökandet fortsätter i dagens kliniska kontextbas genom kvalitativa djupintervjuer med 30 deltagare (vårdledare och vårdare) från Finland, Sverige och Norge. Förförståelsen och forskningens teoretiska perspektiv har rötter i Erikssons caring science-tradition och vårdvetenskapens ontologiska grundantaganden som utvecklats vid Åbo Akademi, Enheten för vårdvetenskap i Vasa. Forskningsansatsen är inspirerad av H-G Gadamers filosofiska hermeneutik. Designen är explorativ-deskriptiv, idiografisk och implicerar ett hypotetisk-deduktivt tillvägagångssätt. Tjänandet och vårdledarskapets ethos upptäcks och tolkas genom det metodologiska närmandet: Erikssons hermeneutiska begreppsbestämningsmodell, idéhistoriska läsakt och hermeneutiska läsakt. Materialet bildar förståelsehorisonter genom den hermeneutiska dialogens successiva och oändliga rörelse. Horisonterna reflekteras mot teorikärnan för att öppna för ny förståelse av tjänandets meningsinnehåll, vårdledarskap och vårdadministration. I slutandet sker en horisontsammansmältning och en reflektiv anslutning till vårdvetenskapens teorikärna som visar hur tjänandets ethos blir evident i vårdledarskap. Resultatet visar att vårdledarskap som är tjänande för patienten och vårdkulturen synliggörs i vårdadministrationens kontext genom huvudets skärpa, handens gärningar och hjärtats visdom. Tjänandets sanna, goda och sköna tidlösa rörelse är riktad mot hälsa och helande. I dag sammankopplas tjänande inom vårdorganisationer med hälsoekonomiska förhållanden, effektivitet, produktivitet och rationalitet, vilket strider mot tjänandets värdegrund, människans värdighet och respekt för livet. Vårdorganisationernas etiska ansvar är att fungera som samhälleliga förebilder, tillrättalägga för vårdadministrationernas tjänande och stå i patientens tjänst. Gestaltningen av tjänandets ethos i vårdledarskap öppnar för nya diskurser, riktningar, visioner och handlingar i den vårdadministrativa verkligheten. Avhandlingen ger vårdvetenskapens systematiska grundforskning ett teoritillskott av fördjupad förståelse av tjänandets och vårdledarskapets historiska och samtida ontologiska evidens och ethos med applikationen på klinisk vårdvetenskap.

An Alternative American Approach to Repositories

Presentation at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

The Invisible Institutional Repository: Missing a Trick (and Missing Fulltext)?

Presentation at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

When Metadata Collides: Lessons on Combining Records from Multiple Repository Systems.

Presentation at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

Feminististä fenomenologiaa

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

The role of collective intelligence in crowdsourcing innovation

Social insects are known for their ability to display swarm intelligence, where the cognitive capabilities of the collective surpass those of the individuals forming it by orders of magnitude. The rise of crowdsourcing in recent years has sparked speculation as to whether something similar might be taking place on crowdsourcing sites, where hundreds or thousands of people interact with each other. The phenomenon has been dubbed collective intelligence. This thesis focuses on exploring the role of collective intelligence in crowdsourcing innovations. The task is approached through three research questions: 1) what is collective intelligence; 2) how is collective intelligence manifested in websites involved in crowdsourcing innovation; and 3) how important is collective intelligence for the functioning of the crowdsourcing sites. After developing a theoretical framework for collective intelligence, a multiple case study is conducted using an ethnographic data collection approach for the most part. A variety of qualitative, quantitative and simulation modelling methods are used to analyse the complex phenomenon from several theoretical viewpoints or ‘lenses’. Two possible manifestations of collective intelligence are identified: discussion, typical of web forums; and the wisdom of crowds in evaluating crowd submissions to websites. However, neither of these appears to be specific to crowdsourcing or critical for the functioning of the sites. Collective intelligence appears to play only a minor role in the cases investigated here. In addition, this thesis shows that feedback loops, which are found in all the cases investigated, reduce the accuracy of the crowd’s evaluations when a count of votes is used for aggregation.

Den Äldsta – livet är ett tillägnande : en vårdvetenskaplig explorativ studie av ett meningsbärande budskap och en innerlig visdom

In the background of the thematic The Eldest – life is acquiring one finds both previews and myths. Wisdom belongs to these myths. The hermeneutical philosophy refers to thinking as o movement from myth to logos in a dialogical oneness. The research uncovers dimensions in the element wisdom as empowered. The experiences of older are saved for further learning and transformation to younger with reference to vulnerable situations where common regulations are no more usefull. The interest goes to an Eldest. The Eldest in the study is pictorial in accordance to the main literature in the study.The Eldest is etymological, fictive and symbolic: – a man who understands higher matters of life, even Gods holy matters. She will set the fulfillment of others as the highest endowment out of an innermost ethos and an innermost wisdom. The innermost is wisdom. The aim is to discover a meaningful message in life is acquiring. In order to see and to learn from the experiences the study aim to uncover the innermost, an innermost wisdom out of a caritative approach. This innermost is anticipated as a longing for unity and health in dayly matters and in a caring ability for the other. The main overstatement is: What will this most meaningfull and innermost by the Eldest out of a living in factual life mirrored in a caring perspective be? Two questions expired; what will the meaningful message in the acquiring be? What will the innermost wisdom in serving the good be? This message and its innermost wisdom will get an expanded meaning out of a caring sentence: Man who dare – seeing back with gratitude, seeing forward in confidence, seeing aside with love and upward in fate wear that dignity, that holiness and that mercy and empathy which belong to life in its basics. The persons attending the research are situated in two contexts. One group has roots in the Lutheran church and the other in a caring profession. The datamaterial is formed out of the usages from these persons, from the spoken (conversation) and the written word (a guestbook). The usages as particular and common are continually integrated in the leading caring sentence from the beginning of the study to the end. The usages stand by the methodological for the final message and wisdom and at the same they form the operative dimension in the study, the evident and the validity. The overarching methodological approach is in the hermeneutic philosophy in accordance with the abductive logic. The usages out of two research groups are most significant in this deductive, inductive and abductive strategy. The usages from the research groups are confronted with the caring sentence in dialogical spaces, halts. The meaning and the innermost searched for will be pictured through the abductive and hermeneutic interpretation and will stand for an articulation of and a successively expansion of meaning. A twine of horizons out of the entire dissemination, the deductive and the inductive, creates the result, as the final message as the ground for an understanding of an even more embracing meaning in an innermost wisdom. The identified bearing movement in the groups in accordance with the caring sentence goes for something higher, something higher than me, to the wellbeing of the other. A conclusion is made and a thesis is identified. This thesis is out from the usages: What can I do in a creating of this caritative? An antithesis is also identified, is a man able to look outside one own and go to something higher, something greater? The synthesis is articulated as a dialogical movement from something … to something higher. The bridge could be maturation, transcendence, the divine or wisdom. The statement finds its root in the attending groups but a difference is also identified. This higher matter is different. The contexts and their meaningfulness decide. A final statement is: learn to see man and her matters hold in life.