Østfold University College

About: Østfold University College is a education organization based out in Halden, Norway. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Health care. The organization has 438 authors who have published 1213 publications receiving 12510 citations. The organization is also known as: HiØ.

The Solipsism of Pornography: Speech Act Theory and the Anti-Porn Position

Abstract: The present essay takes as its point of departure the resurgence of the anti-porn argument claiming that pornography is harmful. It focuses especially on philosopher Rae Langton’s attempt to use speech act theory to defend the anti-porn position of Catherine MacKinnon. Langton’s argument is critiqued for assuming that we can ascertain the function of pornography without considering the situations of its use. It hence runs counter to the particularizing intent of speech act theory as such, which emphasizes the need to study speech in context. Rather than dismiss the anti-porn position Langton defends as faulty, the essay suggests that it remains an incontrovertible facet of the pornographic situation, and as such should be dialectically engaged. In the second half of the essay, therefore, the reasoning that informs the antiporn position is shown to be incompatible with the recurrent claim that porn is the expression of a male desire to dominate women. Rather, a closer look at Langton’s defense of the anti-porn argument helps us see that pornography is the expression of cognitive possibilities unique to the historical conditions that have brought it forth, and as such is every bit as self-conflicting as is capitalism itself.

First, they came for the old and demented: Care and relations in the age of artificial intelligence and social robots

Abstract: Health care technology is all the rage, and artificial intelligence (AI) has long since made its inroads into the previously human-dominated domain of care. AI is used in diagnostics, but also in therapy and assistance, sometimes in the form of social robots with fur, eyes and programmed emotions. Patient welfare, working conditions for the caretakers and cost-efficiency are routinely said to be improved by employing new technologies. The old with dementia might be provided with a robot seal, or a humanoid companion robot, and if these companions increase the happiness of the patients, why should we not venture down this road? Come to think of it, when we have these machines, why not use them as tutors in our schools and caretakers for our children? More happiness reported, as our children are entertained, well-nourished, well-trained and never alone. Lovely and loving robots have also been made, and happiness abounds when these are provided to lonely adults. Happiness all around, and a hedonistic heaven – the utilitarian’s dream, as reported, or measured, well-being reaches all-time highs. But there is a reason to be wary of this development. The logic that allows this development ultimately leads to the conclusion that we would all be best off if we could simply be wired to a computer that provided us with whatever we needed to feel perfectly satisfied. The care-giving machines are here.

Teststrategier og testmotivasjon: Fire niendeklassingers erfaringer med nasjonal prøve i lesing

Abstract: Denne studien bygger pa intervjuer med fire flerspraklige elever om deres deltakelse pa nasjonal prove i lesing pa 9. trinn. Intervjuene fokuserte pa temaene testmotivasjon og teststrategier under gjennomforingen av leseproven. Gjennom samtalene fant vi at elevene var motiverte for a delta pa proven selv om resultatene pa denne ikke gav utslag pa karakterene. De som skaret hoyt sa ut til a bruke et bredere register av teststrategier enn de elevene som skaret lavt. Elevenes opplevelser, erfaringer og refleksjoner rundt testmotivasjon og teststrategier komplementerer den kunnskapen vi har om nasjonale leseprover siden det fins fa kvalitative studier om elevers egne perspektiver pa testmotivasjon og teststrategier og ingen om den gruppen elever vi studerer. ABSTRACT Test strategies and test motivation: The experience of participation in national reading test for four 9th graders The current study examines the experiences and reflections of four multilingual students’ participation in the national reading test in 9th grade using interviews. The interviews focused on test motivation and test strategies when conducting the reading test. We found that the students were motivated to participate, even though the test results did not have consequences for their grades. The high performing students seemed to use a broader register of test strategies than the low performing. The students’ experiences and reflections about test motivation and test strategies complement our knowledge of national test-participation since there are few qualitative studies of students’ own perspectives on motivation and test (taking) strategies and no studies on the group of students we examine.

Risk of a ‘revolution of rising expectations’ in China?

Abstract: This article analyses developments in Chinese living standards with special focus on urban-rural inequalities. The analysis and discussion target the rapid economic lift, accompanied by inequalities and the risk of revolution of rising expectations in the last three decades. Although this economic lift brings China from one of the poorest countries in the world to the second largest economy globally, many are also concerned about social instability as a result of increasing inequalities and social gaps. We have examined existing data, including international statistics and Chinese national sources. It shows that average Chinese citizens, in general, have enjoyed improvements in their living standard, but an increasing gap in per capita disposable income between urban and rural residents is observable. The discussion section connects to results from secondary surveys. The conclusion is that conditions for feelings of relative deprivation are diminutive and so is the risk of a forthcoming revolution...

Digital society generates new challenges on child welfare services

Abstract: Digital society has created a new situation that challenges the present discourse on public services. Since it is only a recent phenomenon, digital society has not yet been in-cluded in the broader ...