http://hdl.handle.net/1893/2677 Electronic theses from legacy departments related to the Faculty of Social Sciences Sat, 26 Sep 2026 10:25:33 GMT 2026-09-26T10:25:33Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38037 Title: “Eyes and Ears”: An examination of the role and impact of community policing in the detection and investigation of human trafficking in Scotland Author(s): Robertson, Scarlet Abstract: Human trafficking (HT) is gaining increased recognition and attention in Scotland and beyond. There is an acknowledgement that this is a complex issue and new approaches are needed to improve policing responses. This PhD research sought to examine the impact of and interaction between community policing (CP) and HT. This offers a different perspective on the issue and adds to scholarship and knowledge on what can work in HT policing. Theory was built from pulling together literature and case studies on CP and on HT. This suggested that there was the possibility for CP to contribute to HT policing in several ways. To explore whether this was mirrored in practice, the research took a mixed method approach. A document analysis was undertaken to examine if and where CP fits within HT strategy and policy in Scotland. This was followed by an online survey for CP officers and interviews conducted with police officers working in either CP or HT in order to gather experiences, views and opinions on CP and HT in Scotland. These were examined to determine CP officers’ knowledge and understanding of HT and where CP and HT interact and overlap. Findings ultimately suggest that there is some overlap with CP and HT in Scotland but the current role of CP officers is limited and largely not used deliberately. Whilst there are some contributions from local officers, these are minimal. However, views on the role of CP in HT policing were positive. It was reflected, both in officers’ opinions and in policy, that local efforts were key in theory. This related to CP officers being the “eyes and ears” closest to the problem and able to contribute in valuable ways that specialists who were more removed could not. In practice, however, this role was not fully fostered, realised, or used. Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38037 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37981 Title: Defining Corruption through Workers’ Lived Experiences: A Study on Financial Workplaces in Vietnam Author(s): Hoang, Minh Ngoc Abstract: Considering the ever-changing impacts of corruption on civil society around the world, understandings of the concept and its contemporary presumptions require ongoing reflection and revision. However, existing work on corruption, both in academia and practice, tends to focus on Western-centric formulations and ‘macro’ corruption, using a limited range of methods and perspectives. This realistically overlooks important nuances and contexts, including grey areas between corruption and discrimination. The thesis thus responds to such gaps in knowledge, exploring a novel definition and ways to understand everyday corruption. It considers ‘micro’ victimisations and the multiple socio-cultural normative impacts of workplace corruption within the financial sector in Vietnam. The study used a mixed methodology, including a preliminary quantitative survey followed by semi-structured qualitative interviews with workers from various local financial institutions. The analysis utilised simple summaries and statistical tests to capture the local attitudes and perceptions towards workplace corruption from the survey data. These insights were then expanded and clarified using narrative analysis of the local lived experiences with corruption from the interview data. The proposed framework guiding the study was also revised into a final dynamic norm-corruption cycle, using regressions and narrative structure analysis. The main outcomes comprise an extensive definition of workplace corruption via the lived experiences of financial workers in Vietnam and a general framework of corruption from a micro perspective. The thesis also provides a novel corruption-discrimination scale as nuanced spectrums and representations of these concepts. Overall, most corruption forms are also perceived as discrimination, with notable variations within and between them. These findings and insights contribute to local and global knowledge and practices of corruption. The results also provoke implications on the need for local normative reforms in order to enhance standards and improve receptiveness to the demands of local workers. Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37981 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37062 Title: Exploring Social Inequalities in Dog Bites and Strikes Using Administrative Data Sources Author(s): Hooper, Jade Elizabeth Abstract: Hospital admissions due to dog bites and strikes (DBS) are rising across the UK. In Scotland, this has been dubbed a ‘national crisis’. DBS can lead to serious and long-lasting physical and mental injury, with the most vulnerable populations often at greatest risk. In England and Wales, hospital admissions for DBS are highest in the most deprived areas, while in Scotland, the existence or extent of these disparities remains unknown – a gap in knowledge that this thesis aims to address. NHS 24 calls, A&E attendances and SMR01 hospital admissions involving DBS across Scotland for up to 12 years (2007-2019) were explored at record and area levels and then linked to 2011 Scottish Census microdata. A control group of individuals without a health record for a DBS was extracted from the Census, and their characteristics were compared to individuals with a DBS health record. Measures of socioeconomic circumstance were considered at area and individual/household levels, along with an exploration of novel measures, including local greenspace, average garden size and dog populations. The analysis revealed significant social inequalities in medically attended DBS across Scotland. For instance, the rate of DBS health records was at least 2-3 times higher in the most deprived areas than in the least deprived areas. At the individual/household level, social disadvantage was consistently associated with a higher likelihood of having a DBS health record. This pattern held across multiple measures of socioeconomic circumstance. These inequalities were particularly pronounced among children and for injuries resulting in hospital admission. The conclusions argue that these inequities are unjust and avoidable and must be addressed directly. This thesis advocates for a shift from criminalising and blaming irresponsible dog ownership toward strategies that support families and consider the role of broader systemic factors. Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37062 2024-08-29T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/36028 Title: The linguistic marketplace of ELT in a Christian mission in Thailand: Perspectives of missionaries and Thai learners Author(s): Mayi, Luqman Abstract: For the past three decades, the intersection of Christian mission and English language teaching (ELT) has been a topic of debate in TESOL. Scholars such as Edge (2003), Pennycook and Coutand-Marin (2003), Pennycook and Makoni (2005), and Varghese and Johnston (2007) have conducted critical reviews and highlighted that some missionary organisations incorporate their faith into English language teaching activities, raising ethical and moral concerns. One of these is that some missionaries engage in covert actions, appearing to teach English while attempting to impart religious knowledge to students. This criticism has sparked a heated debate among Christian and non-Christian TESOL scholars. However, our understanding of the connection between language and religion remains limited, as there is still a lack of evidence of how Christian missions behave in ELT contexts. This research aims to contribute to the debates by exploring the perspectives of missionaries from different organisations (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and three other Christian churches) regarding the role of ELT in their missions in Thailand. The study sought the perspectives of five Thai Buddhist students who had learned English through interactions with LDS missionaries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study was conducted in phases. Phase one involved interviewing five Christian teachers (including two LDS missionaries) to gain insight into their perspectives on the role of English language in their Christian missions. Phase two involved interviewing one former LDS missionary and five Thai Buddhist students to explore the role of English language teaching and learning in the "free English class with missionaries” programme held in an LDS church in Thailand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to delve into their perspectives. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data, resulting in the identification of five themes in this study: 1) Reasons for teaching English in a Christian mission, 2) ELT qualifications in a Christian mission, 3) The role of missionaries as missionary English language teachers, 4) Free English as a Christian tool?, and 5) the “leaving the door open” approach. The findings of this study highlight the multifaceted and complex nature of ELT in Christian missions in Thailand. Both missionaries and Thai learners perceive the role of ELT in multiple ways. For the missionaries, it serves as a means to reach Thai people and share their faith when possible. For Thai learners, it presents an opportunity to improve their English skills through interactions with English speakers. From a linguistic market perspective, English as a symbolic language in Thailand provides a negotiated ground. The missionaries utilise their English skills to connect with Thais, while the Thai learners seek to enhance their English linguistic capital. In this framework, the study reveals that ELT in Christian missions is not a one-sided affair where the missionaries, with their privileged English competence, solely impart knowledge. Rather, it operates as a trade-off, benefiting both missionaries and Thai learners. This finding underscores the notion of ELT in Christian missions as a linguistic marketplace. Symbolic English, linguistic capital, and economic capital are intertwined in complex ways. In contexts where symbolic English and language ideologies prevail, the role of missionaries as ‘native’ English speakers is reinforced, allowing them to effectively share their faith. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the complex phenomenon of ELT in Christian missions in Thailand. It highlights the interplay between language, religion, ideology, and culture in the narratives of missionaries and Thai learners. It emphasises that ELT in this context goes beyond a mere instrument for teaching the language and is intricately connected to political, cultural, social, and spiritual aspects. Ultimately, ELT in Christian missions involves a trade-off between missionaries and Thai learners. Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/36028 2023-12-14T00:00:00Z