Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
Articles 1 - 24 of 24
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Marital Satisfaction And Conflict: A Cross Cultural Comparison Between China And Australia, Lauren Gabelich
Marital Satisfaction And Conflict: A Cross Cultural Comparison Between China And Australia, Lauren Gabelich
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
The levels of marital satisfaction and how these were predicted by scores on the Romantic Partner Conflict Scale were assessed separately in Australian males (n = 48) and females (n = 100) and Chinese males (n = 321) and females (n = 321). Contrary to expectations, marital satisfaction was higher in the Australian sample than in the Chinese sample. However, there was a culture by gender interaction in which Australian females were much more satisfied than Chinese females. Satisfaction scores for males in both cultures were different, with males being less satisfied than females in the …
Towards An Understanding Of The Separation And Mediation Experiences Of Western Australian Fathers: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Carly Mercadante
Towards An Understanding Of The Separation And Mediation Experiences Of Western Australian Fathers: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Carly Mercadante
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
The process of marriage breakdown can be one of the most painful experiences in life (Qu, 2004). The person who initiates the separation is more likely to experience more positive post divorce adjustment than the non-initiator (Wang & Amato, 2000) and is likely to undertake preparation for separation. In Australia, only 32% of men initiated separation in 2003 (Hewitt, Western & Baxter, 2006), it is possible then, that many separated men are ill prepared for mediation. The 2006 Amendments the Family Law Act presumes shared parental responsibility of children and requires that former partners make a genuine attempt to resolve …
Acquisition Of Mathematical Skills: A Test Of The Effectiveness Of A Computer Maths Game, Eibhlish O’Hara
Acquisition Of Mathematical Skills: A Test Of The Effectiveness Of A Computer Maths Game, Eibhlish O’Hara
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
The mathematical skills of primary school students in Australia are not at the level they could be. In order to find a solution to this issue, different theories of skill acquisition were reviewed and the effectiveness of a computer maths game based on the psychological principles of learning identified by the Component Theory of Skill Acquisition was investigated. The participants of the study consisted of 218 year three students from four primary schools in Western Australia. It was hypothesised that participants using the experimental computer game would demonstrate greater improvement in maths skills than the participants in the other conditions. …
Counsellors’ Perceptions Of Counselling Western Australian Drug Court Clients, Katherine Carroll
Counsellors’ Perceptions Of Counselling Western Australian Drug Court Clients, Katherine Carroll
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
The Drug Court of Western Australia provides treatment and diversionary options to offenders whose addiction to drugs and/or alcohol has played a part in their offending. There are concerns regarding the potential impacts on the therapeutic relationship when counselling a court-referred client and whether or not court-mandated counselling is effective in assisting clients to address their drug use and offending behaviour. Ten counsellors of drug court referred clients were interviewed to identify the counsellors’ perceptions of drug court referred clients and the potential impact on the therapeutic relationship and effectiveness of counselling. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis …
Burundian Refugee Mothers’ Experiences Of Their Children’S School Readiness, And The Role Of Supported Playgroups, Rebecca New
Burundian Refugee Mothers’ Experiences Of Their Children’S School Readiness, And The Role Of Supported Playgroups, Rebecca New
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Parenting issues have been found to be some of the most challenging issues facing refugee parents in Australia, particularly in regards to their children’s education. To date, minimal research has considered the experiences of refugee parents from specific cultural groups in relation to their children’s school readiness and transition to kindergarten. Furthermore, there is a gap in research exploring how supported playgroups can assist refugee parents throughout these experiences. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to explore the meaning Burundian refugee mothers in supported playgroups ascribe to their experiences of children’s school readiness and transition to kindergarten. A …
Conceptualising Female Perpetrated Violence Towards Intimate Male Partners: A Delphi Study Of Expert’S Views, Sarah Moate
Conceptualising Female Perpetrated Violence Towards Intimate Male Partners: A Delphi Study Of Expert’S Views, Sarah Moate
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Despite increased acknowledgement that males as well as females can be victims of intimate partner violence, compared to the extensive literature on male perpetrators of intimate partner abuse, the literature on female perpetrated violence towards male partners is exceptionally scarce (Dutton, Nicholls & Spidel, 2005). What is evident from the research that does exist, is that there is a lack of discussion and consensus in regards to the causal explanations specific to this type of female violence. The present study aimed to address this by exploring the ways in which local experts in the field of family and domestic violence …
Maternal Humanitarian Entrants “Me Time”: The Ways Social Support Works In A Facilitated Playgroup, Annmarie La Rosa
Maternal Humanitarian Entrants “Me Time”: The Ways Social Support Works In A Facilitated Playgroup, Annmarie La Rosa
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
This study explored how maternal humanitarian entrants (MHE) ascribe meanings to the ways social support works in a facilitated playgroup context. The secondary research question addressed the extent to which accounts of playgroup support could be explained by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (BEST). A focus group followed by case study and follow-up interviews provided the women, staff and stakeholders the opportunity to share their narratives. Rich descriptions of their "lived" experience were central to the research purpose. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to validate the ascribed meanings of ways social support manifested in the playgroup. The role of BEST contributed …
Cognitive And Affective Correlates Of Theory Of Mind As Influenced By Task Modality, April Kane
Cognitive And Affective Correlates Of Theory Of Mind As Influenced By Task Modality, April Kane
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
This study investigated whether task modality influenced performance on affective and cognitive theory of mind (ToM) tasks. The sample comprised 56 “healthy” adults, including 26 males and 30 females, whose ages ranged from 19 to 59 years. Participants completed four ToM tasks, two of which were designed to assess the affective ToM process, two the cognitive ToM process. One task for each process was a visual task, whilst the second was an audio task, thereby assessing the influence of task modality. Task data was analysed to obtain correlation coefficients, which were compared. The correlations for the affective and cognitive processes …
Pet Loss And The Elderly, Daphne D’Gama
Pet Loss And The Elderly, Daphne D’Gama
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Companion animals are known to provide numerous psychosocial benefits to their owners. It is due to these prominent and positive contributions that individuals develop a deep attachment with their pet. Consequently pet owners experience intense grief reactions following the death of a cherished pet. While numerous studies have focused on the experiences for children and young adults, the experience of pet loss for the elderly remains relatively unexplored. An in-depth qualitative research design guided by a phenomenological framework was used to explore the experiences surrounding pet loss for the elderly. Data was collected though one-on-one semi-structured interviews with thirteen participants …
Improving Memory Through N-Back Training, Paul Beavon
Improving Memory Through N-Back Training, Paul Beavon
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Jaeggi and colleagues have claimed that fluid intelligence may be improved through a cognitive training regime utilising the n-back task; maintaining that the improvement in Gf is realised through melioration in working memory (WM). To date there has been no evidence to support this assertion, however Jaeggi, Buschkuehl, Jonides, and Perrig (2008) obtained a significant improvement in short term memory (STM). The current study examined the near transfer mechanisms of the single n-back task; specifically STM and WM as operationalised through the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities. Forty-seven participants were divided into experimental (n = 26) …
Coping Styles And Levels Of Depression, Anxiety And Stress Among Siblings Of Alcohol And Other Drug Users, Nadia Zaccaria
Coping Styles And Levels Of Depression, Anxiety And Stress Among Siblings Of Alcohol And Other Drug Users, Nadia Zaccaria
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
This study examined the coping style adopted (tolerate, engage and withdraw) and levels of depression, anxiety and stress among those negatively affected by their sibling’s AOD use. In total, 164 participants who were first year psychology students at Edith Cowan University, Joondalup were included in the study. Of these, 78 (47.6%) were male and 86 (52.4%) were female. Through the assistance of a psychology lecturer, participants were recruited during a first year psychology lecture at Edith Cowan University, Joondalup. Participation was voluntary and each participant was provided with an information letter and a copy of the questionnaire. All participants ( …
Working The Companion Animal In The Context Of New Interpersonal Relationships, Steven Remic
Working The Companion Animal In The Context Of New Interpersonal Relationships, Steven Remic
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Companion animals are found in the majority of western households. In surveys it has been found that companion animals are often viewed as family members. There is debate in psychological literature on what people mean when they describe companion animals in familial terms, with three theoretical frameworks posited to help explain the pets-as-family phenomena. Attachment theorists suggest that pets meet all four criteria for psychological attachment. Other researchers have suggested that companion animals are positioned within family systems, and are part of the dynamic interplay between human family members. Evolutionary psychologists have suggested that companion animals take advantage of in-built …
Pathways To Care : The Experience Of New Mother’S Perinatal Mental Health In Rural Areas, Belinda Butler-O’Halloran
Pathways To Care : The Experience Of New Mother’S Perinatal Mental Health In Rural Areas, Belinda Butler-O’Halloran
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
This qualitative study sought to explore the lived experience of new mothers in rural areas. Specifically the experience of the women’s perinatal mental health was studied to understand the type of care they required in the early stages of motherhood. Findings indicate the women were unprepared for the difficulties of new motherhood which was isolating and lacking in support. New mothers found little help from the health care professionals such as GPs, CHN and Midwives due to professional time constraints and inability to develop a relationship. In addition new mothers were uncertain how unwell they needed to be before seeking …
An Examination Of The Nonresidential Stepmother Role, Jenine Rocca
An Examination Of The Nonresidential Stepmother Role, Jenine Rocca
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Stepmothers are consistently underrepresented in stepfamily research (Orchard & Solberg, 1999), particularly nonresidential stepmothers (Johnson et al., 2008). The present research investigated how nonresidential stepmothers conceptualise, construct, and evaluate their roles, and to identify factors leading to their role adoption. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight nonresidential stepmothers residing in Perth, Western Australia, who had contact with their stepchildren for fifteen days or less per month. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, and results indicated that in terms of their role conceptualisation, the participants perceived their role to have changed, compared their roles to existing roles, and also …
Parents Raising Adolescents Diagnosed With Low-Functioning Autism And Their Perceptions Of The Level And Quality Of Support They Receive, Jayne Armstrong
Parents Raising Adolescents Diagnosed With Low-Functioning Autism And Their Perceptions Of The Level And Quality Of Support They Receive, Jayne Armstrong
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Autism is a complex developmental disorder that currently affects 1 in every 110 Australian children. Research indicates that raising an individual with such a disorder can be very psychologically and physically demanding and that parents need to be fully supported during this time. Despite such evidence however, it would appear that very limited studies have been conducted to determine whether this support is actually being provided. This purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of parents raising an adolescent with low-functioning autism with regards to the support which they currently received from a.) The government and b.) The …
Is There A Tiger Mother Effect? : An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Immigrant Vietnamese-Australian’S Parenting Experience, Tony Nguyen
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Current census data reports that more than a quarter of Australia’s population is from overseas (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2007). With respect to the Vietnamese population, the 2006 Census has reported over 150 thousand Vietnamese-born people in Australia (ABS, 2007). While there has been a steady rise in the immigrant Vietnamese population, few studies have examined this population and this is extended to the parenting and acculturation literature (Nguyen & Cheung, 2009). The research literature has also tended to lump together distinct ethnic groups that make up the “Asian” designation, thus obscuring the inter-cultural diversity of research (Liu, Pope-Davis, …
Pastoral Care: A Qualitative Exploration Of Adolescent Girls’ Understanding Of Health And Wellness Topics, Melissa Holter
Pastoral Care: A Qualitative Exploration Of Adolescent Girls’ Understanding Of Health And Wellness Topics, Melissa Holter
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Adolescent girls construct a developing sense of identity amongst a vast array of contextual influences, including family, school, peer relationships, and set within a broader societal context (Choate, 2007). Negotiating the many nuances, demands and dynamics of all these factors present young girls with developmental stressors. Secondary schools worldwide have an established tradition of providing pastoral care in an attempt to foster individual well being and guide students’ through the challenges of adolescence and beyond, with varying degrees of success (Calvert, 2009). The current study is a qualitative exploration of the experiences of a group of 36 adolescent girls as …
Retrospective Time Perception Of A Long Task: Using Music To Distinguish Between Attention-Based And Memory-Based Models [Presentation], James Brooks
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Attention-based models and memory-based models propose different outcomes of retrospective time perception of a long task. The effects of music on perceived time duration was used to determine which model best explained the results. In an independent design, 48 adults were randomly assigned to a silent condition or one of three music conditions. In all four conditions participants completed a Sustained Attention to Response Task . In the music conditions, participants listened to 62 songs for total duration of 23 minutes 10 seconds. The music conditions varied in the familiarity of the songs, and the instruments used to perform each …
Visual Memory Improvement In Recognition [Presentation], Allison Prandl
Visual Memory Improvement In Recognition [Presentation], Allison Prandl
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Fluid intelligence and working memory might be improved by training on a visual working memory n-back task (Jaeggi, Buschkuehl, Jonides & Perrig, 2008). Previous honours projects at ECU have shown no improvement in fluid intelligence due to n-back training, and a significant increase in fluid intelligence associated with general knowledge and vocabulary task training. One possibility may be that visual recognition memory may mediate the improvement in fluid intelligence (Jaeggi et al., 2008). The present study therefore investigates whether n-back training can increase visual recognition memory. A sample of 47 participants underwent 20 days of cognitive training …
An Exploration Of Life's Issues That Adolescent Girls Face: Impacting Their Psychological, Physical And Spiritual Wellbeing, Samantha Lowden
An Exploration Of Life's Issues That Adolescent Girls Face: Impacting Their Psychological, Physical And Spiritual Wellbeing, Samantha Lowden
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
As adolescent girls transition in their development they can experience numerous extensive short term and long term personal challenges that impact their mental health and personal wellbeing for themselves and society (Call et al., 2002; Tolman, Impett, Tracy & Michael, 2006). This research utilised interpretative phenomenology to explore insights and interpret the lived experiences of adolescent girls in psychological wellbeing (PWB), physical wellbeing (PhysWB) and spiritual wellbeing (SWB). It discovered coping strategies the girls employ, implied ways to promote resiliency, self esteem and self confidence and highlighted the benefits and ideals that adolescent girls are seeking from prevention or support …
Experiences Of Parenting Among Burmese Refugee Mothers In A Facilitated Playgroup, Beth Mclaughlin
Experiences Of Parenting Among Burmese Refugee Mothers In A Facilitated Playgroup, Beth Mclaughlin
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Psychological literature suggests that parenting in an unfamiliar culture can be one of the more significant challenges experienced by refugee families (Lewig, Arney, & Salveron, 2010; Renzaho, & Vignjevic, 2011). Such parenting difficulties are often compounded by a perceived lack of social support. In response to this, emerging research has identified facilitated playgroup programs as instrumental tools for assisting families with resettlement in their new host context. However, the focused exploration of how such programs support parenting, particularly amongst refugee mothers from specific ethnic groups, has largely been overlooked. Through adopting a qualitative methodology, the proposed interpretive phenomenological study aims …
For Love Or Money : The Underlying Motives Of A Workaholic, Aleksandra Kosevic
For Love Or Money : The Underlying Motives Of A Workaholic, Aleksandra Kosevic
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
In response to the technological innovations of the present era there has been a blurring of the frontier between work and personal life. For this reason there has been a rise in workaholism amongst employees in managerial and professional occupations. Workaholism literature is engrossed with its common associated negative outcomes, arguing for a preoccupation with materialistic rewards being one cause for this. The present study aims to explore the possibility that outcomes of workaholism pertain to the underlying motive of workaholism and these are not necessarily negative. Results indicated that autonomous motivation fully mediated the relationship between workaholism and job …
Karen Burmese Refugee Youth And Facebook: The Influence On Sense Of Community And Belonging, Beth Hazelden
Karen Burmese Refugee Youth And Facebook: The Influence On Sense Of Community And Belonging, Beth Hazelden
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
There are currently over 42.5 million displaced persons worldwide, with 15.2 million identifying as refugees. The Karen Burmese are a persecuted ethnic group forced to flee to refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. Australia plays host to 22170 Burmese, with 80% identifying as Karen. For the Karen and other refugees, involuntary migration is a difficult experience. Refugees face many challenges when resettling into a new community, and refugee youth experience additional challenges. It is important for psychosocial wellbeing to have a sense of community (SOC) and belonging (SOB), but this may be disrupted for refugee youth. One way that young …
Social Capital In Metropolitan Playgroups : A Qualitative Analysis Of Early Parental Interactions [Presentation], Hebba Gibson
Social Capital In Metropolitan Playgroups : A Qualitative Analysis Of Early Parental Interactions [Presentation], Hebba Gibson
School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations
Parents’ ability to rely on their social contacts to access different types of support is said to reflect their levels of Social Capital (SC). Playgroups are considered a hub for fostering SC that will benefit parents (Powell, 2005). However, empirical evaluations of playgroups that measure their effectiveness using measures of SC are scarce. The present study investigated early parental interactions in playgroups and the ways in which such interactions reflect parents’ levels of SC. Additionally, the study evaluated SC inequalities between parents relative to the strength of their social ties. A qualitative design, using phenomenology was used to understand the …