OAR@UM Collection:https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/704032024-03-29T08:08:08Z2024-03-29T08:08:08ZFairytales : the influence on young women's perception of romantic lovehttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1184382024-02-15T05:51:26Z2006-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Fairytales : the influence on young women's perception of romantic love
Abstract: The aim of this study is to explore how fairytales impinge on young women's perception
of romantic love. Using a qualitative approach four focus groups were conducted with
female participants aged between 16 and 24 who were either in relationships or single and
this was analysed using thematic analysis. This research indicates that young women
identify with the female characters in fairytales. It also indicates that fairytales effect
young women's expectations of boyfriends and young women's expectations of
relationships in general. The most useful thing that could emerge from this study is an
awareness of how certain notions young women have may effect their expectations of
romantic relationships. It also offers recommendations for how the findings of this research
are useful outside the context of romantic love.
Description: B.PSY.(HONS)2006-01-01T00:00:00ZThe specification and estimation of a model for the Maltese aggregate labour markethttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1015412022-09-26T05:32:53Z1982-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: The specification and estimation of a model for the Maltese aggregate labour market
Abstract: In this thesis an aggregate labour market model is formulated
and its parameters are estimated using Maltese annual time-series
data, covering the years 1954-1979. Many empirical studies on labour
markets do not make adequate allowance for the possibility of disequilibrium, and some contain the assumption, explicit or otherwise,
that the wage rate continually cleared the market. This present
work does not impose this constraint, and the labour market model
specified in such a way as to enable the researcher to judge whether
or not the assumption of equilibrium is valid.
The study opens with some background information about the
Maltese economy, since the interrelationships to be investigated occur
within this setting. This is followed by two chapters dedicated to a
discussion on the specification of the labour demand and labour supply
relations. In the chapter that follows, it is argued that the labour
demand and labour supply equations cannot be estimated in isolation
from each other because of the possible simultaneous determination
of labour supply and demand and of wage rates, and that since disequilibrium is a distinct possibility, specific allowance should be
made for it.
The labour market model proposed in this study turns out to be
a simultaneous system of equations, which apart from the labour supply
and demand equations, contains a wage adjustment equation, and an
equation explaining the observed quantity of labour in relation to
labour supply and demand.
The results obtained from the estimation of the model suggest
that the labour market in Malta was not characterised by equilibrium
during the period of our study. As expected, it was found that the
balance between labour demand and labour supply is influenced by
real output, the working age population, real wage rates and by
short run factors such as partial adjustment of labour demand to its
desired level, and labour supply response to cyclical fluctuations.
Another important conclusion that emerges from our study is that real
wage rate changes are influenced by the balance between labour demand
and labour supply, and also by non-competitive forces, in particular
Union pushfulness. An implication drawn from these results is that
some form of trade off may have to be sought to achieve acceptable
rates of real wage increases and of involuntary unemployment.
Description: PH.D.SOCIAL WELLBEING STUD.1982-01-01T00:00:00ZLinking Malta's adolescents' risky behaviour to social and cultural influenceshttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1009802022-08-26T05:24:25Z2009-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Linking Malta's adolescents' risky behaviour to social and cultural influences
Abstract: This research project was carried out with hopes to determine the levels, frequency, nature and prevalence of risky behaviour of adolescents on the Maltese Islands. This behaviour was then analyzed and linked to possible social and cultural factors such as; religion, socio-economic status, family type, childhood experience, and education and schooling. The study was carried out on 236 participants ranging in age from 15-25, all currently living in Malta. Data was collected by means of an anonymous, online questionnaire and ensured strict confidentiality amongst all participants. Building upon information found in numerous literature and relevant sources, the levels of treacherous activity currently occurring in Malta were compared with empirical findings. in other countries. The major hypothesis, does locality, religion, family background, education level and/or socio-economic status matter in the attitudes, behaviours and predispositions of today's adolescents, suggested an affirmative answer. Religion, family values, parental control and upbringing all suggest significance in adolescent behaviour. The experimental behaviours focused upon in this study include; smoking, drinking alcohol, dabbling with illicit drugs and promiscuous, unprotected sexual activity. The fact that all these behaviours were seen in abundance suggests that there are high levels of availability of illegal substances on the Maltese Islands, and that significant amounts of teenagers are participating in under-age binge drinking and sexual activity.
Description: B.PSY.(HONS)2009-01-01T00:00:00ZEmotional intelligence and transformational leadership in social workhttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1008482022-08-25T07:40:20Z2008-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Emotional intelligence and transformational leadership in social work
Abstract: The fundamental premise of this thesis is that emotion is not just important but absolutely necessary
for one to make good decisions, take optimal action to solve problems, cope with change and
succeed. Emotions provide data that assist one in making rational decisions and behaving in
adaptive ways. They must be the source of inspiration and feedback on which leaders should rely in
order to build effective teams, to plan and decide effectively, to motivate people, to communicate a
vision, to promote change and to create effective interpersonal relations. This concept of emotional
intelligence is applied to organisations, more specifically the social work agency - Agenzija
APPOGG1
APPOGG was chosen as the organisation under study, since it is the main social work services
provider in Malta. It delivers a number of services, aimed at addressing the current and emerging
needs of the persons it encounters in the course of conducting its duties. The services within the
Agency give priority to and focus on children, their families and the community at large thus
ensuring that social networks are strengthened and are more equipped in dealing with the real issues
that members of our society, especially children and families, are facing.
This thesis is an attempt to answer the research question "Do the structures and human resource
functions in place at APPOGG, create a climate that is conducive to an emotionally intelligent
workplace?" Thus, the issues of organisational climate, human resource functions and leadership
are explored in the light of their effect on relationships within APPOGG, and therefore their
influence on the levels of emotional intelligence within the Agency.
This study takes an Action Research Approach which deliberately incorporates an action component
into the research design, and subsequently uses the Grounded Theory Approach in its analysis of
data collected. These two approaches complement each other as an effective tool for amplifying the
voices of the participants in the study.
This thesis is divided into two parts. Part one is an exploratory study which consists of a cultural
analysis of APPOGG. Various critical issues emerge from the results of this analysis, primary
amongst which is that of leadership. Based on these findings, and supported by an extensive review
of the literature and in full concordance with the leaders of the Agency themselves, the Researcher
decides to focus on the leadership of the Agency. This leads into Part Two of the study. All the
managers and service area leaders agree to and actually take an emotional intelligence test - the
MSCEIT (Mayer, Salovey, Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, 2002). Once again, based on the
outcome of this test, the Researcher carries out a Training Day with the Managers and Service Area
Leaders of APPOGG. The analysis of the discourses and interactions of this day produce a
Conceptual Framework which identifies the main variables of leadership, which impinge on the
management practice of the participants. These variables are extensively explored and discussed.
This study concludes that a number of factors within the organisational culture, the leadership and
the human resource functions within APPOGG are in fact not conducive to the development of an
1 For ease of reference the shorter and more colloquial version APPOGG will be used throughout.
Emotional Intelligence and Transformational Leadership in Social Work
emotionally intelligent workplace. These factors, which include trammg provided, career
development, learning opportunities, supervision and mentoring, workload management and the
very nature of the teams are discussed and a number of recommendations for further action and
research are made. The primary recommendation is that of a complete culture change in the
organisation, with the focus on valuing, developing and caring for the workforce, as well as on
organising work more sensibly - along every echelon of the organisation.
Once again, in full accordance with the participants themselves, the majority of the participants retake the MSCEIT, five months after the first take and the training itself; and a marked overall
improvement in the emotional intelligence of the participants is noted.
While this study does not lay claim to being a description of every social work organisation - each
organisation is different in nature, has its very own culture and contextual situation, is a dynamic
and living organism - it does lay claim to having identified the main variables of leadership within
the management of social work organisations. It is also a study which has given a voice to the
managers and leaders within this specific organisation, and a study which has allowed for each
member of the leadership team to be heard.
Description: PH.D.SOCIAL WORK2008-01-01T00:00:00Z