Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Negative narrative'

Connecting past and present: the historical anthropology of the small-scaled minning production in porco, bolivia Who studies and creates the narratives that surround the city of Lima’s archaeological sites, known locally as huacas? Traditionally, this has been the responsibility of professional archaeologists, who in their research and conservation efforts, as well as in their efforts to convert sites into open-air museums, tend to focus almost exclusively on the prehispanic period, when these sites were initially designed, built, used, and transformed. This approach marginalizes and even renders invisible the role these huacas had during the Colonial and Republican periods. This particular narrative is problematic, since it subjectively “freezes” sites into limited time frames, and implies that the value and significance of sitez lies solely in a very specific past. Following this narrative, huacas become static entities, instead of dynamic spaces that change over time, in which all historical periods contributed significantly to their current state. Inspired by the research, conservation, and conversion of Huaca Huantinamarca (in Lima’s San Miguel district) into a public space and open-air museum, this paper proposes to go beyond the traditional narrative and include all historical periods, including those periods perceived as “despised history”, in order to construct a narrative that is more comprehensive, authentic, and inclusive.
¿Quién investiga y construye la narrativa de los sitios arqueológicos en la ciudad de Lima, conocidos localmente como huacas? Tradicionalmente, esta tarea ha sido responsabilidad de los arqueólogos profesionales, que, en la investigación, conservación y, sobre todo, en los trabajos de «puesta en valor», suelen privilegiar el período de construcción, uso original y transformaciones de estos sitios durante la época prehispánica, marginando e incluso haciendo invisible el papel que las huacas tuvieron durante la Colonia y la República. Esta narrativa es problemática, puesto que, de manera subjetiva, «congela» a las huacas en un periodo delimitado, y sugiere que su valor y significado se encuentra solamente en un pasado específico. Siguiendo esta narrativa, las huacas son presentadas como espacios estáticos, en vez de espacios dinámicos que cambian con el tiempo, donde todos los períodos históricos —incluido el período de ruina— contribuyen de manera significativa a su estado actual. Inspirados en la estrategia de investigación, conservación y puesta en valor aplicada en Huantinamarca en el distrito de San Miguel, proponemos ampliar la narrativa de las huacas e incluir todos los períodos históricos, incluso aquella historia percibida como «negativa» para así construir una narrativa más completa, auténtica e inclusiva.

In this narrative study, I explore the transformative visual cultural dialogue behind the sight of the veil or veiled women in Denton, Texas as a Western culture. The narrative is constructed from the experiences of three Western non-Muslim women participants who wore the veil publicly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, especially Denton, Texas, for about two weeks, in the spring of 2014. The main question for this study is: How do veiled Western women incite transformative visual cultural dialogue and ideas concerning veiled women? To gather rich data to answer the study's question, I utilized qualitative narrative inquiry to explore the transformative dialogue that the veil, as a visual culture object, can incite in non-Muslim Western women's narratives. The study involves three participants who are non-Muslim American women who voluntarily wore the veil in public and recorded their own and other's reactions. The participants' interviews and diaries demonstrated that the veil incited a particular perceptive dialogue and often transferred negative meanings. For example, the sight of the veil suggested the notion of being Muslim, and consequently, the ideas of not belonging. The reactions the participants received were either negative verbal interactions or physical ones, both of which are limited in this study to face gestures or some form of negative body language that is meant to be a message of disliking. In summation, this study shows that the women's veil is a visual culture symbol that transfers negative meaning in the DFW area in Texas.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 1995.
A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Recent estimates suggest that a large percentage of the population experiences some type of traumatic event over the course of the lifetime, but a relatively small proportion of individuals develop severe, long-lasting problems (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder; PTSD). One major goal for trauma researchers is to understand what factors contribute to these differential outcomes, and much of this research has examined correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. An important next step in this line of research is the development of conceptual frameworks to foster a deeper understanding of the relationships among these diverse predictors of PTSD and their predictive power in relation to each other. A framework proposed by Rubin, Boals, and Hoyle centers on the influence of narrative centrality (construal of a traumatic experience as central to one's identity and to the life story) and negative affectivity (the tendency to experience negative emotion and to interpret situations and experiences in a negative light), suggesting many variables may correlate with PTSD symptoms via shared variance with these two factors. With a sample of 477 participants recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk, this dissertation project extended the work of Rubin and colleagues by a) utilizing structural equation modeling techniques to simultaneously examine relationships among variables, b) investigating the utility of the model with a carefully-selected list of PTSD correlates, c) extending the model by including PTSD symptom severity, and d) exploring both direct and indirect effects to assess the roles of narrative centrality and negative affectivity as they relate to known PTSD correlates and PTSD symptom severity. PTSD correlates included social support quality and quantity, peritraumatic dissociation, negative posttraumatic cognitions, perceived injustice, and negative religious coping. Hypotheses were partially supported, and there was some evidence that the model may be effective in distinguishing between variables more and less germane to the individual's construal of a traumatic experience.

Workplace mediation services are committed to developing strategies that help people resolve conflict. In its various intrapsychic and psychosocial guises conflict is central to psychoanalytic theory and practice, but within the current literature there are no qualitative workplace mediation studies explicitly drawing on psychoanalytic/systems psychodynamic theory and thinking. In this way, the dynamic unconscious is effectively marginalised from the mediation research literature. This research adopts a case study approach, and reports the findings of a mixed methods mediation service review undertaken in an N.H.S. Trust. All research participants experienced significant conflict in the workplace, or were directly involved in addressing the antecedents, management and/or consequences associated with collegial and organisational dispute. 27 current N.H.S employees, selected by the mediation service lead, were invited to participate, with 15 proceeding to interview. All 15 participants contribute towards the service review data, whilst 6 of these interviews are used to specifically underpin psychoanalytic/systems psychodynamic analysis. The study methodology incorporates analytically informed negative capability and the Free Association Narrative Interviewing (F.A.N.I.) and analysis methods of Holloway & Jefferson (2012). An emphasis is placed working with the whole data according to the principles of gestalt, including the inter-subjective dynamics of the interview encounter itself, and analytical concepts such as counter-transference, splitting and projective identification. Many of the skills needed to work successfully as a psychoanalytic mediator are illustrated. The study also presents a summative content analysis of Trust board minutes Dec.2012 - Dec. 2015 to establish the representation of organisational conflict and mediation at the most senior levels of the organisation. A discrepancy between the reported prevalence of organisational conflict and its representation at board level is evident. The study links the service review findings to recommendations for the N.H.S. Trust at the level of policy and practice, alongside suggestions for further research.

This research paper is written in a first-person narrative style. The style mirrors the practice-led research methodology I have used which privileges process over resolution and acknowledges that making can be both generative and interrogative. More traditional research methods rely on distancing the researcher from production and placing them within an external framework. Practice-led researchers “construct experiential starting points from which practice follows. They tend to ‘dive in’, to commence practising to see what emerges. They acknowledge that what emerges is individualistic and idiosyncratic.” In this paper the reader is taken on a journey from the spaces of the future, present and past in search of the ‘unfound’. The ‘unfound’ is also to some extent ‘unknown’, but occasionally reveals itself in the text through accidents of poetic association between objects, art and literary moments. The space of the paper is also an avian one. It doesn’t interrogate the material egg and bird object motifs in my practical work, but occupies the air to which these forms owe their qualities of transience, agility and fragility. It is this element that exemplifies the space of my works production. Instead of dissecting and pinning down this element (which would be antithetical), I have tried to occupy its spirit. A substantial part of the paper is made up of footnotes and references to exterior sites, elements that in this paper are far from peripheral. They are employed here as literary devices that enable a visual and conceptual illustration of the distance between process and analysis. Alberto Manguel wrote that “all writing depends on the generosity of the reader.” This paper requires a ‘generous reader’ willing to follow an experimental journey. 1. Brad Haseman, ‘Tightrope Writing: Creative Writing Programs in the RQF Environment’ http://www.textjournal.com.au/april07/haseman.htm 2. Alberto Manguel, A History of Reading (London: Flamingo, 1997), 179.

Aim: The overall aim of this study is to describe experiences of, and the association between, fear of childbirth and birth experiences of women with fear ofchildbirth. Methods: In studies I, II, and IV, a reflective lifeworld approach based on phenomenological philosophy was used to describe women’s experiences of fear of childbirth (I), previous birth experiences (II), and fear of childbirth and of birth experience in a long-term perspective (IV). In study III, differences between women who reported fear of childbirth and those who did not were calculated using risk ratios with a 95 % confidence interval and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Data were collected from interviews with eight (I) and nine (II) pregnant women with intense fear of childbirth, and with six women who had sought care for intense fear of childbirth 7 to 11 years prior to the interview (IV), and via questionnaire from a sample of 763 women during pregnancy and again one year following birth (III). Findings: Fear of childbirth was described as “to lose oneself as a woman into loneliness” (I). Previous birth experience was described as “a sense of not being present in the delivery room and an incomplete childbirth experience” (II). Fear of childbirth was associated with a previous negative birth experience and a previous emergency caesarean section (III). From a long-term perspective, fear of childbirth and birth experience was described as “an effort to make all the pieces come together” (IV). Conclusions: This thesis generates evidence on the importance of previous birth experience for women with fear of childbirth, from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. These perspectives illustrate the complexity where women´s experiences in the delivery room are central. To avoid creating fear of childbirth, it is important that maternity care services focus on women’s birth experiences and critically evaluate care in relation to childbirth.

This thesis focuses on psychosocial interventions for psychosis. It consists of two parts: a systematic review on quality of life in forensic settings and an empirical study on negative symptoms. The systematic review follows the publication guidelines of the journal International Journal of Forensic Mental Health whilst the empirical study follows the publication guidelines of the journal Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. Reasonable adjustments have been made to the formatting of this thesis to enhance readability. Purpose: The systematic literature review aimed to summarise and critically appraise studies that have evaluated the effects of psychosocial interventions for psychotic disorders in forensic settings on quality of life. The empirical study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of Metacognitive Training (MCT) for negative symptoms and to identify mechanisms of change. Methods: The literature was systematically searched (using four databases) for research that included any quantitative measure of quality of life (i.e. self-esteem, quality of life, life satisfaction, and/or self-efficacy in relation to life-goals). In the empirical study, a new intervention was developed by modifying MCT for negative symptoms and four aspects of feasibility were evaluated: acceptability, practicality, demand and limited efficacy. The quantitative approach was supplemented with qualitative interviews on participants' views of the intervention. In addition, potential mechanisms of change were evaluated using a promising new method for analysing data from case-series: multilevel modeling. Results: In total, 10 papers met the inclusion criteria in the systematic review. Significant improvements in quality of life were found in five studies. The modified version of MCT showed good feasibility as demonstrated by the attendance rate, the positive oral feedback from participants and the multidisciplinary team, and the improvements on negative symptoms that were found following the intervention. Multilevel modeling proved useful in explaining the variance attributable to three different predictors: depression, internalised stigma, and reflective functioning. Conclusions: It was found that quality of life can be improved in forensic settings using psychosocial interventions. The pilot study indicated that MCT for negative symptoms has high feasibility and that changes in negative symptoms can partially be explained by depression, stigma, and reflective functioning.

Abstract This study explored mathematical identity work by drawing on the cases of Finnish and Slovenian pre-service elementary teachers. All cases reported having had negative experiences with mathematics during their school years. These experiences were shown to have a central meaning for pre-service teachers’ mathematical identities. However, identity also extends to the future. For this reason, pre-service teachers’ anticipations of the future were also explored. The concepts of narrative identity (Ricoeur, 1992) and possible selves (Markus & Nurius, 1989) were applied in the context of mathematics education. The overall narrative perspective of the study enabled a psycho-social understanding of identity. The special interest of the study was confined to an understanding of the role that educational contexts play in pre-service teachers’ mathematical identity work. Narrative inquiry was applied as a research methodology. In-depth interviews invited pre-service teachers to construct narratives of their mathematics-related experiences. These narratives were analysed holistically and categorically, as well as in terms of content and form. The findings showed striking similarities in pre-service teachers’ school-time memories. The cases in question felt like victims of their own mathematical experiences. The anticipations of mathematics teaching were also underlined by the challenges rooted in their school-time experiences. However, a surprising finding was that the identity work in which the Finnish and Slovenian cases engaged during their teacher education differed substantially. The main reasons for the differences in identity work seemed to stem from different emphases and pedagogical practices in mathematics education courses within the Finnish and Slovenian teacher education settings. The study argued that identity work can be facilitated during teacher education. To begin such a process, it would be central to focus on pre-service teachers’ biographical context through narrative pedagogical tools. The findings also showed that neglecting issues from school-time experiences might engender further challenges for pre-service teachers’ future mathematics teaching. Finally, the study argued for the need to openly address identity during teacher education. The significant theoretical contribution of the study is the conceptualisation of ‘mathematical identity work’
Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin matemaattista identiteettityötä suomalaisten ja slovenialaisten luokanopettajaopiskelijoiden kokemusten kautta. Opiskelijoiden mukaan heillä oli ollut omana kouluaikanaan kielteisiä matematiikan opintoihin liittyviä kokemuksia, joilla osoitettiin olevan negatiivisia vaikutuksia opiskelijoiden matemaattisiin identiteetteihin. Koska tutkimuksessa korostuu identiteetin tulevaisuusaspekti, tarkastelun kohteina olivat opiskelijoiden tulevaisuuteen liittyvät toiveet ja odotukset. Tutkimuksessa sovellettiin narratiivisen identiteetin (Ricoeur, 1992) ja mahdollisten minuuksien (Markus & Nurius, 1989) käsitteitä matematiikan opetuksen kontekstissa. Identiteetin ymmärtämisen psyko-sosiaalisena ilmiönä mahdollisti narratiivinen näkökulma. Erityinen huomio kohdistettiin siihen, millainen merkitys kasvatuksellisilla konteksteilla on luokanopettajaopiskelijoiden matemaattisessa identiteettityössä. Tutkimusmetodologiana käytettiin narratiivista tutkimusta. Opiskelijat kertoivat syvähaastatteluissa matematiikkaan liittyvistä kokemuksistaan. Nämä narratiivit analysoitiin holistisesti ja kategorisesti ottaen huomioon myös niiden sisältö ja muoto. Tuloksista ilmenee merkittävää samankaltaisuutta luokanopettajaopiskelijoiden omaan kouluaikaan liittyvissä muistoissa. Monet esimerkiksi kuvailivat itsensä uhreiksi. Myös tulevaan matematiikan opetukseen liittyvät ennakko-odotukset olivat värittyneet opettajaopiskelijoiden omaan kouluaikaan liittyvien haasteellisten kokemusten kautta. Yllättävä tulos oli se, että suomalaisten ja slovenialaisten opiskelijoiden luokanopettajakoulutuksen aikainen identiteettityö erosi huomattavasti toisistaan. Erojen pääsyynä ovat nähtävästi erilaiset painotukset ja käytänteet opettajankoulutuksen matematiikan pedagogisissa opinnoissa. Tutkimus osoittaa, että identiteettityötä voidaan pyrkiä edistämään opettajankoulutuksen aikana. Prosessin aloittamiseksi olisi tärkeää kohdentaa huomio opettajaopiskelijoiden elämäkerrallisiin konteksteihin soveltamalla narratiivisia pedagogisia työkaluja. Sillä että omaan kouluaikaan liittyviä kokemuksia ei oteta huomioon, voi olla kielteisiä heijastuksia opettajaopiskelijoiden tulevaan matematiikan opetukseen. Tutkimuksen mukaan identiteetti on syytä ottaa avoimesti tarkasteluun opettajankoulutuksen aikana. Tutkimuksen teorian kannalta merkittävä anti on termin matemaattinen identiteettityö käsitteellistäminen

Orientador: Jeanne Marie Gagnebin de Bons
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem
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Resumo: Este trabalho pretende compreender a especificidade da temporalidade nas narrativas do escritor tcheco Franz Kafka. Para isto, buscamos desenvolver o conceito de origem negativa e aplicá-lo ao romance O castelo (Das Schloß). Entende-se por origem negativa o movimento constante de negação operado pelo texto, em sua construção labiríntica, e pelos protagonistas e outros personagens em todo original, que em Kafka se encontra ausente ou danificado. No percurso do trabalho, narrativas curtas de Kafka serão comparadas a narrativas clássicas de temática semelhante, incluindo textos da Bíblia e da Odisseia. Diferentes abordagens críticas, como as de Walter Benjamin e Max Brod, serão apropriadas e criticadas em busca da formulação do conceito
Abstract: This work aims to comprehend the specificity of temporality in Czech writer Franz Kafka's narratives. In order to accomplish this, we will try to develop the concept of negative origin and apply it to the novel The castle (Das Schloß). By negative origin one understands the constant movement of negation operated, by the text itself through its labyrinthic construction and by the protagonists and other characters, on the presumptions of every original, which in Kafka is either absent or damaged. Throughout this work, short narratives from Kafka will be compared with classical narratives with similar themes, including texts from the Bible and the Odyssey. Different critical approaches, like that of Walter Benjamin and Max Brod, will be appropriated and criticized in search for the formulation of the concept
Mestrado
Teoria e Critica Literaria
Mestre em Teoria e História Literária

La presente indagine di ricerca si concentra sulle opere storiografiche di Senofonte, focalizzandosi in modo particolare su quelle figure minori presenti in esse, che mostrano caratteristiche o comportamenti tali da renderle indegne del ruolo di governo che occupano. Da tempo, infatti, la critica si è focalizzata nell’individuare e analizzare quei personaggi che rappresentano il perfetto modello di leadership descritto da Senofonte e offerto all’imitazione del suo pubblico. Tuttavia, ben poco si è detto riguardo le figure opposte, quei paradigmi e contrario, destinati non tanto ad essere imitati, ma utili, piuttosto, a rappresentare gli errori che un lettore deve evitare e a far risaltare ancor di più i modelli di leadership illuminata e capace che sono il reale focus dell’attenzione di Senofonte in diverse opere. Se, infatti, è evidente la volontà e le caratteristiche paideutiche del corpus senofonteo, destinato ad insegnare le qualità, politiche ma ancor di più morali, necessarie per ricoprire un ruolo di governo e guida; sembrerebbe logico ipotizzare che questo fine didattico delle opere di Senofonte possa trovare realizzazione anche nelle figure negative, il cui ruolo è sottolineato ed evidenziato dall’autore attraverso strategie letterarie sempre nuove.
The present research investigation concentrates on Xenophon's historiographical works, focusing in particular on those minor figures in them who display characteristics or behaviour that render them unworthy of the governing role they occupy. Critics have long focused on identifying and analysing those characters who represent the perfect model of leadership described by Xenophon and offered for imitation by his audience. However, very little has been said about the opposite figures, those paradigms and opposites, destined not so much to be imitated, but rather useful in representing the mistakes that a reader must avoid and to bring out even more the models of enlightened and capable leadership that are the real focus of Xenophon's attention in various works. If, in fact, the paideutic intention and characteristics of the Senofonte corpus is evident, intended to teach the qualities, political but even more so moral, necessary to hold a role of government and leadership; it would seem logical to assume that this didactic purpose of Xenophon's works can also be realised in the negative figures, whose role is emphasised and highlighted by the author through ever new literary strategies.

The catalyst for this empirical thesis was a combination of personal experiences whilst ministering as a parish priest and the publication of two small pieces of British research ('Bias to the Poor' & 'The Lies we tell ourselves') that highlighted negative narratives that were directed at those living in poverty. Reports, found within this thesis, from government, think tanks and charities raise this issue as a serious concern for individuals and society as a whole. As a Christian Priest I believe that the Church has a vocation and a duty to examine, analyse and then respond appropriately to social issues. This thesis uses the Pastoral Cycle of 'See, Judge and Act' framework to achieve this. First this thesis looks at the lived experience of people on the receiving end of negative narratives and patterns of injustice that emerge from both the initial data and personal experience. Alongside this it examines the issues surrounding poverty, what it means to be poor, and the effect of living in poverty on both individuals and society. Second this thesis turns to 'Judge' the national situation and ascertain whether these negatives narratives can be found to be prevalent in a larger national medium. This involves a qualitative analysis of the Daily Mail with an exploration of the power of narrative to influence people's perceptions and attitudes. The epistemic injustice inherent in these media stories unpacks some of the dangers within these negative narratives. There is an impact upon people's perception and attitudes towards others. There are issues of prejudice and discrimination to explore and questions to ask both about these concepts, but also concerning their origins. What is it that causes society to create modern day scapegoats of individuals and groups? The complex phenomenon of scapegoating is explored in opposition to the freedom offered by accepting the offer to imitate God instead. In response to this there follows a theological reflection that examines some of the counter-narratives that can be found throughout the Bible. In the final section, 'Act', the Church is challenged to defend those who are ostracised or ignored by mainstream society. The Church has a continual duty to respond to negative narratives with a healing narrative of hospitality and love. The prophetic calling upon the Church requires a response. It should and must respond.

Research has shown that video modelling can improve social behaviours in children with ASD. In addition, research in behaviour modelling training from the field of organisational psychology has shown that using a mix of positive and negative exemplars can assist in acquisition and generalisation of a skill. The current study compared the use of one negative and one positive exemplar, with the use of two positive exemplars to determine which combination would result in faster acquisition and/or superior generalisation of a skill. No other studies have examined this with children diagnosed with ASD. Seven children, aged between 5 and 15 years, and diagnosed with ASD participated in a multiple baseline design across children; within child across two modelling conditions; and within each modelling condition across two tasks. In one condition, a participant watched a video containing one exemplar of a model (same sex and of similar age but with normal development) perform a task the wrong way, and one exemplar of the same model perform the same task the right way (wrong/right). In another condition, the participant watched a video containing two different exemplars of the model perform a matched task the right way (right/right). During the intervention, 1 participant refused to watch the videos. For 13 of the 16 tasks, where training was completed, participants either reached criterion or made some gains in acquisition of the social skills. However, for seven of the tasks criterion was not reached. Generally, neither modelling condition was superior in acquisition or generalisation of the targeted social skills. Confounds occurring during the course of the study may have contributed to the equivocal results. For some children with ASD, video modelling in combination with the delivery of preferred reinforcers may be required for successful skill acquisition. Further implications, particularly the potential negative effects of vicarious reinforcement when an observer does not gain reinforcement for imitation are discussed, as are recommendations for future research.

The study deals with the life stories of six women and four men who were born in Germany and who now live in Sweden.  Its purpose is to examine the histories of those who grew up in Germany during and after the Nazi era, their descriptions of their lives and experiences during childhood and adolescence, and how they regard their encounters with Swedish people, and the ways in which these encounters have affected their ways of describing the growth of their attachment to this country. The main approach is a narrative analysis focussing on the interview interaction and the wider social and political contexts of their life stories. When speaking of their lives in the two countries they show varying degrees of attachment to the places involved. This is why I use the term “travellers” when describing how their feelings of “belonging” change. The theoretical concepts used are those of habitus and capitals derived from Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice, and Marianne Horsdal’s view that people often refer to the idea of a “good life” when relating their life stories. This concept can of course vary widely from one person to another. Nine of the group emigrated to Sweden voluntarily; the remaining one came here as a refugee after the end of the second World War.  The older ones - born between 1920 and 1940 - have memories of their early years in Nazi Germany and of the wartime period. The younger ones, born after 1950, have differing memories of childhood and adolescence spent in East and West Germany. Some of them lost close relatives during the war.  Those who came to Sweden during the late 1940s and the 1950s were met with very negative attitudes from some Swedes, while the later immigrants were treated with respect.
Tyskland i Sverige och Sverige i Tyskland

Avec la mise en place d'entrepôts de données cliniques, de plus en plus de données de santé sont disponibles pour la recherche. Si une partie importante de ces données existe sous forme structurée, une grande partie des informations contenues dans les dossiers patients informatisés est disponible sous la forme de texte libre qui peut être exploité pour de nombreuses tâches. Dans ce manuscrit, deux tâches sont explorées~: la classification multi-étiquette de textes cliniques et la détection de la négation et de l'incertitude. La première est étudiée en coopération avec le centre hospitalier universitaire de Rennes, propriétaire des textes cliniques que nous exploitons, tandis que, pour la seconde, nous exploitons des textes biomédicaux librement accessibles que nous annotons et diffusons gratuitement. Afin de résoudre ces tâches, nous proposons différentes approches reposant principalement sur des algorithmes d'apprentissage profond, utilisés en situations d'apprentissage supervisé et non-supervisé
With the introduction of clinical data warehouses, more and more health data are available for research purposes. While a significant part of these data exist in structured form, much of the information contained in electronic health records is available in free text form that can be used for many tasks. In this manuscript, two tasks are explored: the multi-label classification of clinical texts and the detection of negation and uncertainty. The first is studied in cooperation with the Rennes University Hospital, owner of the clinical texts that we use, while, for the second, we use publicly available biomedical texts that we annotate and release free of charge. In order to solve these tasks, we propose several approaches based mainly on deep learning algorithms, used in supervised and unsupervised learning situations

In his monograph on Sepedi/North Sotho, Groenewald (1993:19) describes Moses Josiah Madiba as one of the first authors of didactic or moral tales. He also points out that Madiba’s contribution includes other kinds of works, such as poetry and school readers. Groenewald (1993:19) emphasises Madiba’s pioneering role in the development of literature in Sepedi. Because he was one of the earliest writers in Sepedi, his influence on the development of this literature should not be underestimated. In this study, the focus is therefore on the writing of Madiba as an author, but only his novelette Tsiri (1953) is selected for specific analysis. In the analysis, the content and structure of the work are discussed in detail and they are interpreted against the historical background of Sepedi literature in order to highlight Madiba’s place in this literature. The descriptive model used in this study is an adaptation of the narratological model. It requires a comprehensive definition of the relevant concepts. In this case a distinction is made between the theme and topic as concepts. The elements of the content, namely the characters, the action, the milieu and historical time, are defined precisely. The novelette deals with the difficult life circumstances encountered by the protagonist, which result in his falling into a life of laziness. The relationship that develops between the various characters is highlighted in terms of the topic. The historical course of the facets of the action is described. The various time aspects are closely examined, after which the milieu is discussed. The entire discussion is situated in an historical framework in order to reveal the importance of Madiba in the history of this literature. The structure of the work is discussed in four sections. First, the theme of the story, the narrative strategy, the title and the pillars on which the structure rests are discussed. Second, characterization is explored, with particular emphasis on Tsiri and his father, Madubaduba, who respectively represent the negative and positive poles in the novelette. This includes a discussion of the various narrative techniques which are used to persuade the reader to accept Tsiri after he repents. Third, the milieu is described in as far as it supports the theme. It contributes to the rationale for the turning point in Tsiri’s life. The milieu is functionally incorporated by means of a multitude of techniques. Fourth, the study focuses on the action, which presents the events in terms of an exposition, the development, climax and dénouement. Once the author has indicated the conflict between the main characters, he uses a variety of narrative moments to increase tension. In particular, he uses changes of the point of view and focalisation extensively. As can be expected in the early works in any literature, there are some bothersome structural flaws, and in this case they are related specifically to the use of the different points of view, where there is no clear rationale for the presence of the author’s moralisation. Although this flaw is pointed out, this does not imply a negative critical analysis of the work. The fact remains that Madiba writes in a flowing narrative style and that his Sepedi language usage is impeccable, which makes him an important pioneer in the history of Sepedi literature. His pioneering work in the educational arena positions him as a champion of the Sepedi language. Further studies could evaluate his other novelettes and poems against this background. AFRIKAANS : In sy monografie oor die Sepedi/Noord Sotho letterkunde beskryf Groenewald (1993:19) Moses Josiah Madiba as een van die eerste skrywers van die didaktiese of morele verhaal. Hy wys ook daarop dat Madiba se bydrae ander werke insluit, byvoorbeeld gedigte en skoolleesboeke. Groenewald (1993:19) beklemtoon Madiba se baanbrekerswerk in die Sepedi letterkunde. Omdat hy een van die vroegste skrywers in Sepedi was, mag sy invloed op die ontwikkeling van hierdie letterkunde nie onderskat word nie. In hierdie studie word die ondersoek derhalwe op die skrywerskap van Madiba toegespits, maar slegs die novelle Tsiri (1953) word vir spesifieke ontleding uitgesonder. In die bespreking word die inhoud en die struktuur van die werk indringend beskryf en dit word teen die historiese agtergrond van die Sepedi letterkunde geïnterpreteer om sodoende Madiba se plek in hierdie letterkunde duidelik uit te lig. Die beskrywingsmodel wat in hierdie studie gebruik word, is ‘n aanpassing van die narratologiese model. Dit vereis ‘n volledige omskrywing van die begrippe wat ter sprake kom. In hierdie geval word daar tussen die tema en die onderwerp as begrippe onderskei. Ook die elemente waaruit die inhoud bestaan, naamlik die karakters, die handeling, die milieu en historiese tyd, word presies omskryf. Die novelle handel oor die hooffiguur se moeilike lewensomstandighede, wat daartoe bydra dat hy in luiheid verval. Die verhouding wat tussen die verskillende karakters ontwikkel, word ten opsigte van die onderwerp uitgelig. Die historiese verloop van die fasette van die handeling word beskryf. Die verskillende tydsaspekte word onder die loep geneem, waarna die milieu bespreek word. Die hele bespreking word binne ‘n historiese raamwerk geplaas sodat die betekenis van Madiba in die geskiedenis van hierdie letterkunde na vore kom. Die struktuur van die werk word in vier afdelings behandel. Eerstens word die tema, die vertelstrategie, die titel en pilare waarop die struktuur staan, bespreek. Tweedens word karaktertekening nagegaan; en hier val die kollig op Tsiri en sy vader Madubaduba, wat onderskeidelik die negatiewe en positiewe pole in die verhaal verteenwoordig. Dit sluit ‘n bespreking in van die verskillende verteltegnieke waardeur die leser oorgehaal word om Tsiri, na sy berou, te aanvaar. Derdens, word die milieu beskryf en wel in soverre dit die tema ondersteun. Dit dra daarom by dat die keerpunt in Tsiri se lewe gemotiveer word. Deur ‘n veelheid van tegnieke word die milieu funksioneel ingespan. Vierdens val die klem op die handeling wat onder vier hoofde aan die orde kom, te wete die eksposisie, die ontwikkeling, die klimaks en die ontknoping. Nadat die outeur die botsing tussen die hooffigure aangedui het, kom hy met ‘n verskeidenheid vertelgrepe vorendag om die spanning uit te bou. Daar word veral gebruik gemaak van gesigspuntwisseling en fokussering word ekstensief aangewend. Soos te wagte in enige vroeë werk in ‘n letterkunde, kom daar hinderlike struktuurfoute voor, en in dié geval lê dit juis by die aanwending van die gesigspunttegnieke, waar die teenwoordigheid van die outeur se moralisering nie duidelik gemotiveer word nie. Hoewel die gebrek uitgewys word, lei dit nie na ‘n kritiese ontleding van die werk nie. Die saak is dat Madiba ‘n vloeiende vertelmanier het en dat sy taal in onbesproke Sepedi is, wat hom in die geskiedenis van die Sepedi letterkunde ‘n belangrike baanbreker maak. Sy pionierswerk op die gebied van die onderwys plaas hom as taalstryder voorop. In verdere studies sou sy ander novelles en gedigte teen hierdie agtergrond beoordeel kan word. Copyright
Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010.
African Languages
unrestricted

A Multi-Lingual Performance-as-research project submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Drama Therapy at Drama for Life, A division of the Wits School of Arts Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, March 2017
This multi-lingual autobiographical performance-as-research (PAR) project critically analyses self-revelatory performance as a drama therapy method that can be used to effectively mitigate the lingering effects of a negative self-concept of Afrikaner identity brought on by the collective trauma of our past in South Africa. The research enquires and demonstrates; in what ways the method of self-revelatory performance is effective in mitigating the effects of collective trauma both on intra-psychic and interpersonal levels through the lived experience of the researcher, training drama therapist and client-performer who underwent a process of devising, scripting, rehearsing, and performing a piece of autobiographical theatre in front of an invited audience. The methodology is firmly located within, and founded on the core principles of art-based research and more specifically, PAR; this choice of method of enquiry is as a result of the performative and embodied nature of the method of self-revelatory performance. The findings of the research are a collaborative process of practice (performance), self-reflexivity and theory working together to answer the research question. The research demonstrates the need for performative methods of drama therapy, such as self-revelatory performance, to be explored within our South African context. The research illuminated the need to adapt the methodology when working with collective trauma in our South African context and the need to clearly define the role of the audience, and the conditions of collective witnessing that determine psychological safety and containment, in the method of self-revelatory performance within our socio-cultural context.
XL2018

De nos jours, l’idée selon laquelle bon nombre d’individus atteints de psychose peuvent se rétablir sensiblement au fil du temps est de plus en plus répandue. Alors que le milieu médical associe le rétablissement à la rémission symptomatique, les usagers de services en santé mentale le voient plutôt comme un processus où l’absence de symptômes n’est pas une condition sine qua non. Ne s’opposant à ni l’un ni l’autre de ces points de vue, le traitement actuel des psychoses vise le retour à un fonctionnement social approprié. Chez les jeunes atteints d’un premier épisode psychotique, une diminution marquée des symptômes après un traitement pharmacologique se traduit rarement en une amélioration significative du fonctionnement, ce qui justifie la mise en place d’interventions psychosociales. On connait aujourd’hui quelques variables associées au fonctionnement social chez cette population, mais celui-ci a peu été étudié de façon spécifique. De même, on connait mal la manière dont ces jeunes vivent leur rétablissement en tant que processus. Cette thèse porte donc sur le rétablissement et le fonctionnement social de jeunes en début de psychose. La première partie consiste en une introduction aux concepts de rétablissement et de réadaptation, et en une revue de la littérature des interventions psychosociales pouvant favoriser leurs rétablissement et fonctionnement. Plus spécifiquement, nous illustrons comment ces interventions peuvent s’appliquer aux adolescents, clientèle sur laquelle peu de littérature existe actuellement. La deuxième partie présente les résultats d’une étude sur la valeur prédictive de variables sur trois domaines du fonctionnement social de 88 jeunes adultes en début de psychose. Des équations de régression multiple ont révélé qu’un niveau plus élevé de dépression était associé à une vie sociale moins active, qu’un moins bon apprentissage verbal à court terme était associé à un plus bas fonctionnement vocationnel, que le fait d’être de sexe masculin était négativement associé aux habiletés de vie autonome, et qu’un niveau plus élevé de symptômes négatifs prédisait de moins bonnes performances dans les trois sphères du fonctionnement. Finalement, la troisième partie s’intéresse au processus de rétablissement en début de psychose par l’analyse de récits narratifs selon un modèle en cinq stades. Nous avons découvert que l’ensemble de notre échantillon de 47 participants se situaient dans les deux premiers stades de rétablissement lors du premier temps de mesure, et que le fait de se trouver au deuxième stade était associé à de meilleurs scores d’engagement social et de fonctionnement occupationnel, à un meilleur développement narratif, à moins de symptômes négatifs et positifs, et à plus d’années de scolarité. Par ailleurs, l’examen des stades à deux autres temps de mesure a révélé des profils relativement stables sur une période de neuf mois. En somme, les résultats démontrent la nécessité d’évaluer le fonctionnement social de façon plus spécifique et l’importance d’offrir des interventions psychosociales en début de psychose visant notamment le développement des relations et l’intégration scolaire/professionnelle, ou visant à améliorer le faible développement narratif. Cette thèse est, de plus, un premier pas dans l’étude du processus de rétablissement des jeunes atteints de psychose.
Currently, the idea that several individuals experiencing psychosis can show evidence of recovery over time is gaining in popularity. Although recovery is viewed as the disappearance of symptoms in the medical field, consumers of mental health services see it more as process in which the complete absence of symptoms is not a sine qua non. Nevertheless, the current treatment for psychosis is aimed at regaining a satisfactory level of social functioning. In individuals experiencing a first psychotic episode, a noticeable decrease in symptoms is rarely associated with a significant improvement in functioning. Therefore, psychosocial interventions are necessary to assist in recovery. The literature has identified a number of variables associated with social functioning in this population, but to date, there are no studies investigating this aspect in details. Furthermore, very little is known about how these youth experience the process of recovery. This thesis dissertation will therefore address recovery and social functioning in young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. A first section will serve as an introduction to the concepts of recovery and rehabilitation and a review of the literature on psychosocial interventions promoting recovery and functioning. Specifically, we will illustrate how these interventions can apply to adolescents, a population for which very few studies have been published. A second section will present the results of a study on the predictive value of variables on three domains of social functioning in 88 young adults in early psychosis. Multiple regression analyses showed that a more severe depression was associated with a less active social life; that a poorer short term verbal learning ability was associated with poorer vocational functioning; and that men showed poorer independent living skills. Furthermore, more severe negative symptoms were associated with poorer performances in all three spheres of social functioning. Finally, the third section will address the recovery process in early psychosis through the analysis of narratives using a five stage recovery model. We determined that overall, our sample of 47 individuals were classified within the first two stages of recovery at baseline and that those classified in the second stage showed better social engagement and vocational functioning scores, a better narrative development, less severe positive and negative symptoms, and had attained a higher educational level. Furthermore, the analysis of the stages of recovery across two others time points show that these profiles are relatively stable over a 9 month period. In conclusion, these results show that it is necessary to evaluate social functioning in a more detailed manner, and reaffirms the importance of making psychosocial interventions available to service users experiencing early psychosis. It highlights, in particular, the need for services aimed towards the development of social relationships and educational/vocational integration, or interventions addressing deficits in narrative development. Moreover, this thesis dissertation is a first step towards the study of the recovery process of young adults experiencing psychosis.

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA - Instituto Universitário para obtenção do grau de Mestre na Especialidade de Psicologia Clínica
Os comportamentos autolesivos constituem um fenómeno complexo considerado um problema de saúde pública, com elevadas prevalências na adolescência. Para a sua emergência contribui uma diversidade de acontecimentos de vida e sentimentos, sendo frequentemente justificados como cumprindo uma função de regulação de afetos. Destacando o adolescente como principal construtor da sua realidade, é importante estudar as descrições que este elabora da realização do comportamento autolesivo e explorar os motivos e funções subjacentes. Através das suas narrativas, a presente investigação pretendeu analisar compreensivamente as descrições dos comportamentos autolesivos de 164 adolescentes, de ambos os géneros, com idades compreendidas entre os 15 e os 21 anos de idade. O principal meio de recolha de dados foi o Inventário de Comportamentos Autolesivos, que avalia a existência destes comportamentos e caracteriza as situações em que ocorrem. Observou-se uma predominância dos conflitos interpessoais e das emoções negativas como fatores que contribuem para a autolesão, sendo a principal função a de aliviar o sofrimento e reduzir tais emoções. Segue-se a de escapar aos problemas e substituir o sofrimento emocional. Foram identificadas sequelas pessoais, principalmente lesões físicas e sentimentos negativos, e sequelas relacionais, com manifestação de preocupação e apoio parental. Os resultados justificam a necessidade de programas de prevenção e intervenção para os jovens e a capacitação e educação dos intervenientes escolares, familiares e sociais.
ABSTRACT: Self-harm behaviors are a complex phenomenon considered a public health problem, with high prevalence in adolescence. For its emergence contributes a variety of life events and feelings and those are often justified as functioning to emotions regulation. Highlighting the adolescent as the main constructor of his reality, it is important to study the descriptions he does about self-harm performance and explore the underlying motives and intentions. Through their narratives, this research aimed to comprehensively analyze the self-harm behaviors of 164 adolescents, of both genders, between 15 and 21 years-old. The main mean of data collection was the Inventory of Self-Harm Behaviors, which assesses the existence of these behaviors and characterizes the situations in which they occur. It was observed a predominance of interpersonal conflicts and negative emotions as factors that contribute to self-harm, being the main function to alleviate suffering and reduce such emotions. Follows the functions of escaping problems and replacing emotional suffering. Personal sequels were identified, mainly physical injuries and negative feelings, as well as relational sequels with expression of parental concern and support. These results justify the implementation of preventive and interventive programs for young people and empowerment and education of school, family and social intervenors.

abstract: This thesis analyzes the unsettling presence of the Holocaust in Cynthia Ozick’s The Shawl (1980), Philip Roth’s The Ghost Writer (1979), and Nathan Englander’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank (2013). Characters in these texts struggle to maintain a stable sense of what it means to be Jewish in America outside of a relationship to the Holocaust. This leaves the characters only able to form negative associations about what it means to live with the memory of the Holocaust or to over-identify so heavily with the memory that they can’t lead a normal life. These authors construct a re-formed memory of the Holocaust in ways that prompt a new focus on how permanently intertwined the Holocaust and Jewish identity are. In this context, re-formed means the way Jewish American writers have reconstructed the connection between Jewish identity and its relation to the Holocaust in ways that highlight issues of over-identification and negative identity associations. By pushing past the trope of unspeakability that often surrounds the Holocaust, these authors construct a re-formed memory that allows for the formation of Jewish American identity as permanently bound with constant Holocaust preoccupation, the memory of Anne Frank, and the Holocaust itself. The authors’ treatment of issues surrounding Jewish identity contribute to the genre of post-Holocaust literature, which focuses on re-forming the discussion about present day Jewish American connection to the Holocaust. Giving voice to the Holocaust in new ways provides an opportunity for current and future generations of Jewish Americans to again consider the continued importance of the Holocaust as a historical event within the Jewish community. In a world that is once again becoming increasingly anti-semitic as a result of the current political climate, white supremacist riots, desecration of Jewish grave sites, and shootings at temples, the discussion that these texts open up is increasingly important and should remain at the forefront of American consciousness. The research in this thesis reveals that through the process of Holocaust memory constantly being re-formed through the work of these Jewish American authors, its continued influence on Jewish American culture is not forgotten.
Dissertation/Thesis
Masters Thesis English 2020

This thesis investigates how selected Zimbabwean female writers narrate HIV and AIDS. It argues that, generally, the prevailing images of women in Zimbabwean society and literature are incapacitating. Male authors have been portraying women in disempowering ways as loose, dangerous, weak and dependent on men. This unjust portrayal of women has been worsened by the prevalence of HIV and AIDS. Women have been depicted as vectors in the spread of HIV, thus perpetuating sexist ideologies. Presuming that women authors can do better in their depiction of female characters, this research investigates whether female authors differ in their representation of female characters in contexts of HIV and AIDS. The works critiqued are Virginia Phiri’s Desperate (2002), Sharai Mukonoweshuro’s Days of Silence (2000), Valerie Tagwira’s The Uncertainty of Hope (2006), Tendayi Westerhof’s Unlucky in Love (2005) and Lutanga Shaba’s Secrets of a Woman’s Soul (2006). The study further explores the extent to which Zimbabwe female authors sanction, conform, undermine, assess critically or do away with unconstructive images of women in contexts of HIV and AIDS. This study emphasized the possibility of literature to offer a platform for the liberation of women, or a counter- platform for reactionary politics. Predicated on the notion of gender and danger, the study questions whether female authors perpetuate the stereotypes of women’s roles as destructive, or whether some view ‘dangerous’ images of women in literature as liberating. Overall, this thesis argued that contrary to the postulation of female authors being similar in their understanding and depiction of the concept of gender and danger, they are not. It is at this juncture that this study breaks new ground by utilizing the concept of agency to show how different female writers interpret and narrate gender and danger in contexts of HIV and AIDS. This study applies the notion of agency as a means of evaluating the extent to which women employ nonconformist acts in order to undercut patriarchy and other oppressive socially constructed ideologies.
English Studies
(D. Litt et Phil. ( English Studies))

INTRODUZIONE: Il presente progetto di ricerca nasce all’interno di un Dottorato Eureka, sviluppato grazie al contributo della Regione Marche, dell’Università di Macerata e dell’azienda Jobmetoo by Jobdisabili srl, agenzia per il lavoro esclusivamente focalizzata sui lavoratori con disabilità o appartenenti alle categorie protette. Se trovare lavoro è già difficile per molti, per chi ha una disabilità diventa un percorso pieno di ostacoli. Nonostante, infatti, la legge 68/99 abbia una visione tra le più avanzate in Europa, l’Italia è stata ripresa dalla Corte Europea per non rispettare i propri doveri relativamente al collocamento mirato delle persone con disabilità. Tra chi ha una disabilità, la disoccupazione è fra il 50% e il 70% in Europa, con punte dell’80% in Italia. L’attuale strategia europea sulla disabilità 2010-2020 pone come obiettivi fondamentali la lotta alla discriminazione, le pari opportunità e l’inclusione attiva. Per la realizzazione di tali obiettivi assume un’importanza centrale l’orientamento permanente: esso si esercita in forme e modalità diverse a seconda dei bisogni, dei contesti e delle situazioni. La centralità di tutti gli interventi orientativi è il riconoscimento della capacità di autodeterminazione dell’essere umano, che va supportato nel trovare la massima possibilità di manifestarsi e realizzarsi. Ciò vale ancora di più per le persone con disabilità, in quanto risultano fondamentali tutte quelle azioni che consentono loro di raggiungere una consapevolezza delle proprie capacità/abilità accanto al riconoscimento delle caratteristiche della propria disabilità. L’orientamento assume così un valore permanente nella vita di ogni persona, garantendone lo sviluppo e il sostegno nei processi di scelta e di decisione con l’obiettivo di promuovere l’occupazione attiva, la crescita economica e l’inclusione sociale. Oggi giorno il frame work di riferimento concettuale nel campo della disabilità è l’International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), il quale ha portato a un vero e proprio rovesciamento del termine disabilità dal negativo al positivo: non si parla più di impedimenti, disabilità, handicap, ma di funzioni, strutture e attività. In quest’ottica, la disabilità non appare più come mera conseguenza delle condizioni fisiche dell’individuo, ma scaturisce dalla relazione fra l’individuo e le condizioni del mondo esterno. In termini di progetto di vita la sfida della persona con disabilità è quella di poter essere messa nelle condizioni di sperimentarsi come attore della propria esistenza, con il diritto di poter decidere e, quindi, di agire di conseguenza in funzione del proprio benessere e della qualità della propria vita, un una logica di autodeterminazione. OBIETTIVO: Sulla base del background e delle teorie di riferimento analizzate e delle necessità aziendali è stata elaborata la seguente domanda di ricerca: è possibile aumentare la consapevolezza negli/nelle studenti/esse e laureati/e con disabilità che si approcciano al mondo del lavoro, rispetto alle proprie abilità, competenze, risorse, oltre che alle limitazioni imposte dalla propria disabilità? L’obiettivo è quello di sostenere i processi di auto-riflessione sulla propria identità e di valorizzare il ruolo attivo della persona stessa nella sua autodeterminazione, con la finalità ultima di aumentare e migliorare il match tra le persone con disabilità e le imprese. L’auto-riflessione permetterà di facilitare il successivo contatto dialogico con esperti di orientamento e costituirà una competenza che il soggetto porterà comunque come valore aggiunto nel mondo del lavoro. METODI E ATTIVITÀ: Il paradigma teorico-metodologico adottato è un approccio costruttivista: peculiarità di questo metodo è che ciascuna componente della ricerca può essere riconsiderata o modificata nel corso della sua conduzione o come conseguenza di cambiamenti introdotti in qualche altra componente e pertanto il processo è caratterizzato da circolarità; la metodologia e gli strumenti non sono dunque assoggettati alla ricerca ma sono al servizio degli obiettivi di questa. Il primo passo del progetto di ricerca è stato quello di ricostruzione dello stato dell’arte, raccogliendo dati, attraverso la ricerca bibliografica e sitografica su: l’orientamento, la normativa vigente in tema di disabilità, i dati di occupazione/disoccupazione delle persone con disabilità e gli strumenti di accompagnamento al lavoro. A fronte di dati mancanti sul territorio italiano relativi alla carriera e ai fabbisogni lavorativi degli/delle studenti/esse e laureati/e con disabilità, nella prima fase del progetto di ricerca è stata avviata una raccolta dati su scala nazionale, relativa al monitoraggio di carriera degli studenti/laureati con disabilità e all’individuazione dei bisogni connessi al mondo del lavoro. Per la raccolta dati è stato sviluppato un questionario ed è stata richiesta la collaborazione a tutte le Università italiane. Sulla base dei dati ricavati dal questionario, della letteratura e delle indagini esistenti sulle professioni, nella fase successiva della ricerca si è proceduto alla strutturazione di un percorso di auto-orientamento, volto ad aumentare la consapevolezza nelle persone con disabilità delle proprie abilità e risorse, accanto a quella dei propri limiti. In particolare, il punto di partenza per la costruzione del percorso è stata l’Indagine Istat- Isfol sulle professioni (2012) e la teoria delle Intelligenze Multiple di H. Gardner (1983). Si è arrivati così alla strutturazione del percorso di auto-orientamento, composto da una serie di questionari attraverso i quali il candidato è chiamato ad auto-valutare le proprie conoscenze, le competenze, le condizioni di lavoro che gli richiedono più o meno sforzo e le intelligenze che lo caratterizzano, aggiungendo a questi anche una parte più narrativa dove il soggetto è invitato a raccontare i propri punti di forza, debolezza e le proprie aspirazioni in ambito professionale. Per sperimentare il percorso di auto-orientamento creato, nell’ultima fase della ricerca è stato predisposto uno studio pilota per la raccolta di alcuni primi dati qualitativi con target differenti, studenti/esse universitari/e e insegnanti di scuola superiore impegnati nel tema del sostegno e dell’orientamento, e utilizzando diversi strumenti (autopresentazioni, test multidimensionale autostima, focus group). CONCLUSIONI: I dati ottenuti dallo studio pilota, seppur non generalizzabili, in quanto provenienti da un campione esiguo, hanno evidenziato come il percorso di auto-orientamento attivi una riflessione sulla visione di sé nei diversi contesti e un cambiamento, in positivo o in negativo, nell’autostima e nella valutazione di sé in diverse aree, ad esempio nell’area delle relazioni interpersonali, del vissuto corporeo, dell’emotività ecc. Tali dati ci hanno permesso soprattutto di evidenziare punti di forza e debolezza del percorso creato e di apportare modifiche per una maggiore comprensione e adattabilità del prodotto stesso. Il valore del percorso orientativo è connesso al ruolo attivo di auto-valutatore giocato dal candidato con disabilità, affiancando a questa prima fase di autovalutazione un successivo confronto dialogico con un esperto, tale da permettere un ancoraggio alla realtà esterna, al contesto in cui il soggetto si trova a vivere. In questo senso, l’orientamento assume il valore di un processo continuo e articolato, che ha come scopo principale quello di sostenere la consapevolezza di sé e delle proprie potenzialità, agendo all’interno dell’area dello sviluppo prossimale della persona verso la realizzazione della propria identità personale, sociale e professionale.