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Articles 1 - 30 of 34
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Practising Jazz Performance: An Investigation Into The Process That Underpins Optimal Instrumental Practice In The Jazz Idiom, Christopher J. Tarr
Practising Jazz Performance: An Investigation Into The Process That Underpins Optimal Instrumental Practice In The Jazz Idiom, Christopher J. Tarr
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Little formal research has been undertaken into the processes associated with jazz improvisation, particularly those associated with practising to become an elite jazz improviser. This study seeks to understand the role of instrumental practice, particularly physical practice strategies and the associated mental states, in the development of jazz improvisers. Interviews were conducted with six improvisers of various ages, instruments and backgrounds. The study identified a number of strategies specific to jazz practice that differed from traditional practice strategies described in Western art literature, particularly in relation to the importance of the ear-to-instrument connection. Accordingly, the study sets out a series …
Protective-Restoring To Maintain Self Integrity : A Grounded Theory Of The Human Experience Of Dog Relinquishment, Mary Ellen Elizabeth Edwards
Protective-Restoring To Maintain Self Integrity : A Grounded Theory Of The Human Experience Of Dog Relinquishment, Mary Ellen Elizabeth Edwards
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Dog relinquishment or ‘getting rid of the dog’ is common practice in Australia and other countries where dogs are kept as pets. Each year thousands of dogs are relinquished for a variety of reasons. While losing a pet through death can be as devastating for some people as the death of a loved human, little is known about the human impact of losing a dog through relinquishment. This qualitative study sought to explore the experience of dog relinquishment from the perspectives of a Western Australian sample of 21 relinquishers, 10 adults who had experienced dog relinquishment in childhood and 15 …
Self-Determination Theory In Motivation To Adopt Physical Activity In Older Adults: A Community Based Approach, Alastair Stewart
Self-Determination Theory In Motivation To Adopt Physical Activity In Older Adults: A Community Based Approach, Alastair Stewart
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Australia has an increasingly aging population with increasing levels of physical inactivity. The potential detrimental effects of these two factors on the health of the community highlight the need to investigate methods to increase physical activity in older Australian adults. The study reported in this thesis formed part of the PATH (Physical Activity Time for Health) Project, a community-based research trial that compared two strategies to increase physical activity in underactive, 60-80 year old men (n = 66) and women (n = 188). Twelve recreation centres were randomised to either a supervised group based walking intervention with behavioural change components, …
Meaning And Emotion In Squaresoft's Final Fantasy X: Re-Theorising Realism And Identification In Video Games, Glen R. Spoors
Meaning And Emotion In Squaresoft's Final Fantasy X: Re-Theorising Realism And Identification In Video Games, Glen R. Spoors
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
This thesis takes the position that traditional theories of "realism" and "identification" misrepresent the relationships between players and videogames, and that a cross·disciplinary approach is needed. It uses Ed Tan's (1997) and Torben Grodal's (1997) analyses of narrative, cognition, and emotion in film as a basis for interrogating existing research on, and providing a working model of, video gameplay. It develops this model through an extended account of Squaresoft's adventure role-playing game Final Fantasy X (FFX) (2001), whose hybrid narrative and game macrostructures foreground many of the problems associated with video games. The chapters respectively address; existing research on video …
Living Beyond The Unanticipated Sudden Death Of A Partner : A Phenomenological Study, Martin L. Rodger
Living Beyond The Unanticipated Sudden Death Of A Partner : A Phenomenological Study, Martin L. Rodger
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
This research project used a Husserlian phenomenologlcal approach to explore grief and Its Impact upon men and women who have experienced the sudden and unanticipated death of his or her partner. The use of Husserllan phenomenologlcal research Into thanatologlcal study Is a valuable method of exposing the experiences of bereaved people In a vibrant and deep manner. Husserlian phenomenology allowed the surviving partner to reveal every aspect of his or her everyday life and experlencas. It Included what grief meant to them, how It was manifested In their everyday lives and how their partner's death had Impacted upon his or …
Mock Jurors' Judgements Of The Victim, Crime And Defendant As A Function Of Victim Race And Deliberation, Lynley V. Poli
Mock Jurors' Judgements Of The Victim, Crime And Defendant As A Function Of Victim Race And Deliberation, Lynley V. Poli
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Extra-legal variables are factors within a trial that are logically irrelevant to the determination of a verdict. They are deemed extra-legal they are extra to the law and are not prescribed in the relevant statutes upon which the relevant issue must be decided. Research investigating judicial decision-making, however, demonstrates that extra-legal variables often affect jurors' judgements and improperly influence their decision-making. Examples of extra-legal variables include the personal attributes of trial participants, e.g., the victim's physical attractiveness, socio-economic status, and age. Studies conducted in North America indicate that the race of the victim and defendant inappropriately influences jurors' decision-making. However, …
An Examination Of Fathers' Satisfaction With The Legal System: Exploring The Concept In Relation To Fathers' Experience With The Family Law Court Of Western Australia, Janelle M. Hawes
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Although the importance of fathers' post divorce contact with their children has been linked with a better outcome for the children and is valued by society, studies in the United States and Australia have suggested that up to 30 percent of fathers do not maintain regular contact with their children post divorce. To date, the literature has focused mainly on demographic variables and some personal characteristics of the father. An area, which has been neglected, is the influence of fathers' perception of legal proceedings and rules on their contact with their children post divorce. This study aimed to explore the …
An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Occupational Stress: Perceptions Of Employees Following A Merger, Brent J. Pasula
An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Occupational Stress: Perceptions Of Employees Following A Merger, Brent J. Pasula
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
There is a growing body of literature regarding the physiological and psychological effects of stress resulting from the increasing concern about occupational stress. This study attempts to fill an identified gap within epidemiologic literature by examining whether organizational culture has an influence on the level of occupational stress, perceived by employees, following the merger of their company with another. To explore this relationship, five research questions were examined using a data gathering process that consisted of a self-administered survey to measure psychosomatic strain, stress-inducing work demands, and organizational culture.
An Exploratory Examination Of The Relationship Between Substance Use And Suicidal Ideation, David Felton
An Exploratory Examination Of The Relationship Between Substance Use And Suicidal Ideation, David Felton
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Drug use has long been considered a risk factor when assessing the likelihood of an individual committing suicide (Weiss & Hufford, 1999). The research to date is primarily correlative and provides little guidance to the clinician when assessing the role that drug use plays in influencing the risk of suicide for a given individual. Clinical observations within the literature (Downey, 1991; Motto, 1999) report that alcohol or other drug (AOD) use may provide the means to regulate emotional distress. No published studies were found that examined the proposition that AOD use may have a range of positive as well as …
Indicators Of Community Resilience : A Study Of Communities Facing Impending Natural Disasters, Julie A. Pooley
Indicators Of Community Resilience : A Study Of Communities Facing Impending Natural Disasters, Julie A. Pooley
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Disasters are defined as a 'crisis event in which the demands being placed on a human system, by the event, exceed the systems capacity to respond' (Bolin, 1989, p. 62). In the literature the negative consequences of disasters are focused at the individual level and fail to take into account the context In which Individuals live and where the disaster occurred. Few studies utilize residents within a disaster community to define the factors that are relevant to their disaster experience especially in Australian settings. This present studies view of disasters places the individual within an ecological system to understand their …
Children's Attitudes To A Hospital Familiarisation Programme, Lis Mathiasen
Children's Attitudes To A Hospital Familiarisation Programme, Lis Mathiasen
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Many young children are admitted to the emergency departments of our childrens hospitals without the opportunity to receive any preparation in terms of what to expect and what to do or not to do (Health Department of W A, 2000). Surrounded by strange people, environment, smells, sounds and medical equipment, and confronted with possibly painful and invasive procedures, many young children become stressed and anxious. Negative psychological effects may have immediate and/or long lasting psychological consequences (Zuckerberg, 1994; 0 Byrne, Peterson & Saldana, 1997). It is important to protect young childrens rights and to minimise upset and trauma whenever possible. …
Scratching Protest: A Study Of Graffiti As Communication In Universities In Thailand, Sirach Lapyai
Scratching Protest: A Study Of Graffiti As Communication In Universities In Thailand, Sirach Lapyai
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
This study examines the production of campus graffiti as an alternative communication channel and opportunity for Thai students in three universities in three different parts in Thailand. The writing of graffiti is deemed an illegal activity in Thailand, which makes its prevalence on the Thai university campus an intriguing issue. To understand why Thai university students so readily indulge in an illegal activity this thesis investigates student graffiti through an analysis of graffiti as anonymous resistance from students to authoritarian power exercised on campus and as an escape from sociocultural taboos and cultural oppressions that Thai society places on youth …
Motivations To Volunteer In Selected Service Organisations In Australia, Sonia D. Langridge
Motivations To Volunteer In Selected Service Organisations In Australia, Sonia D. Langridge
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The contributions of volunteers assist many organisations to stretch scarce resources further in a bid to provide important services to the community. Such organisations are challenged to motivate the participation of new and continuing volunteers. Although most people in the community recognise the value and importance of volunteerism, few actually commit to participating as volunteers. This study seeks to expand the somewhat limited research on volunteers in an Australian context. The sample consisted of 361 volunteers from three service organisations in Australia-- Rotary International, Horne and Community Care (HACC), and Surf Life Saving Australia. Each of these groups fulfils an …
Alcohol Restraint Television Advertisements Targeted At Adolescents : A Three-Way Comparison Of Reinforcement Styles On Attitude To The Advertisement, Attitude To The Cause And Attitude To The Act, Neil Robinson
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Adolescent binge-drinking is an area of great concern in Australia as it is with many other developed countries around the world. Every year in Australia, Commonwealth and State health authorities invest considerable resources into trying to address this issue and the results have been described as being at best, mixed. Health promotion initiatives such as school programmes, media promotion and health programmes coupled w1th restrictions on supply of alcohol are all used to try and curb the incidence of adolescent binge drinking. In recent years television advertising has specifically been used to try and curb the incidence of adolescent binge-drinking …
The Intergenerational Transmission Of Violence? : The Self-Report Of Physical Abuse In Childhood Among Violent And Non-Violent Offenders, John Dockerill
The Intergenerational Transmission Of Violence? : The Self-Report Of Physical Abuse In Childhood Among Violent And Non-Violent Offenders, John Dockerill
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
This study examined the parental disciplinary history of male offenders to explore the relationship between report of childhood physical abuse and subsequent violent offending, based on the concept of intergenerational transmission of violence. The study also examined the relationship between reports of childhood physical abuse and juvenile delinquency together with an examination of the links between physical abuse and anger. Finally, this study explored the relationship between witnessing aggression to other family members and the motivation for subsequent violent offending (hostile motivated versus instrumentally motivated). Social learning theory provided the theoretical basis for this research. The underlying premise is that …
A Study Of The Experience Of Dramatic Performance For Drama Students, Dale M. Irving
A Study Of The Experience Of Dramatic Performance For Drama Students, Dale M. Irving
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Learning involves cognitive, psychological, sociological, historical, philosophical, aesthetic, emotional and spiritual aspects. This study argues that the spiritual dimension of the psyche is overlooked in the research into education. Spirituality in education is not easily addressed in secular settings and needs exploration and explication. The thesis probes the interstice between the act of dramatic performance and the spiritual awareness of the individual. Case studies allow the exploration of the experience of performance for senior high school drama students, drama teacher trainees and an adult actor. The students attended a school and university in Western Australia. The study posits that in …
Bottle-Feeding Mothers' Experiences Of Coping In A Pro-Breastfeeding Context : The Case For A Caring-Options-Responsive Model Of Midwifery Services, Elizabeth P. Duffy
Bottle-Feeding Mothers' Experiences Of Coping In A Pro-Breastfeeding Context : The Case For A Caring-Options-Responsive Model Of Midwifery Services, Elizabeth P. Duffy
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The original contribution of this qualitative study is that it sketches the front-line of the contested domain of infant feeding choices by exploring the under-researched experiences and perceptions of mothers who actively choose to bottle-feed their babies. Twelve bottle-feeding mothers in Western Australia participated in open-ended, in-depth interviews. The interview findings were further explored using participant observations of relevant hospital practices and critical, hermeneutic re-readings of midwifery's professional and policy documents. The thesis argues that bottle-feeding is marginalised by the midwifery profession that currently defines its practices in accordance with policies such as the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. Bottle-feeding mothers …
A Qualitative Study Of The Impact Of Hip Fracture In The Elderly Population, Stephanie Anne Price
A Qualitative Study Of The Impact Of Hip Fracture In The Elderly Population, Stephanie Anne Price
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The social, emotional and economic impact of falling in the elderly population is significant. Falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths and hospitalisation amongst people aged 65 years and older, a major factor in their morbidity and mortality rates. Post fall sequelae can have major ramifications that include reduction or avoidance of activities, attributable to an enduring fear of future falls. Twenty-three older people who had fallen in the community were located via hospital records and invited to participate in the study. Subjective accounts of the impact of falling and sustaining a hip fracture were obtained by means …
Influence Of Public Image Of Nurses On Nursing Practice, Miyuki Takase
Influence Of Public Image Of Nurses On Nursing Practice, Miyuki Takase
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Many researchers believe that nurses live in a dual structure, encompassing both the social and nursing worlds. They contend that these two worlds have contrasting views toward nurses. This is, while nurses are guided to establish professional status, society still expects them to remain in a dependent role. This conflict is assumed to have a negative impact on nurses’ psychological and functional states (Kalisch & Kalisch, 1983 & 1987). However, this assumption has not yet been explored sufficiently. The aim of this descriptive correlational study was therefore to investigate the relationships among the public image of nurses, nurses’ self concept, …
Early Attachment And Eating Disorders: A Comparative Study Between Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa, Francoise Ringer
Early Attachment And Eating Disorders: A Comparative Study Between Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa, Francoise Ringer
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The purpose of this research was to study the association between adult mental representations of curly attachment relationships and eating disorders, and to compare attachment classifications between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The sample consisted of 62 women with eating disorders, divided between anorexia nervosa [restricting type (n=20) and binge-eating/purging type (n=l6)], and bulimia nervosa (n=26). The measures were (a) a structured interview based on the ''Diagnostic Survey for Eating Disorders" (Johnson and Connors, 1987) and the DSM IV criteria for the classification of eating disorders, and (b) the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) (George, Kaplan and Main, 1985). The AAI …
Surviving Sexually Oriented Bias Incidents: The Experiences Of Homosexually Active Men, Christopher Churchouse
Surviving Sexually Oriented Bias Incidents: The Experiences Of Homosexually Active Men, Christopher Churchouse
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Discrimination, persecution, violence and harassment of certain groups are not a new phenomenon. Legend has described the formation of groups who have been known to persecute others, such as Jews, blacks, religious orders, as a means of protecting the dominant views of society. Homosexually active men have been reported as being one such group that has been persecuted over time due exclusively to their sexual orientation. The purpose of this structured, descriptive study, was to describe the experience of what it feels like to be violated, harassed, persecuted or discriminated against due to sexual orientation, as well as to seek …
The Psychological Impact Of Long-Term Unemployment In Mature-Aged Men : Volunteer Work As A Moderating Variable, Ming Yeu
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Previous research has recognised the negative psychological distress associated with unemployment for older workers aged over 40 years, as they are considered to be more at risk of being unemployed for a longer duration than other age groups. Several moderating variables of the negative effects of unemployment such as age, length of unemployment and leisure participation have also been identified. In examining the experiences of unemployment with an Australian mature-aged group of men, this study also investigated the potential moderating effect of volunteer work participation that had been noted previously but had never been explored. One-hundred and eighteen men aged …
Burnout In Academics : The Role Of Humour And Optimism As Stress Buffers, Natalie R. Fairclough
Burnout In Academics : The Role Of Humour And Optimism As Stress Buffers, Natalie R. Fairclough
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The relationship between university lecturers' perceived stress, use of humour to cope with stress, optimism, pessimism, and burnout was investigated. Participants included 180 lecturers from a range of Perth universities and disciplines. Questionnaire packages were delivered to the participants at their universities and were later returned to the researcher by mail. A principle components analysis was first performed on the Life Orientation Test-Revised, a self-report instrument designed to measure optimism, and demonstrated support for a two-dimensional model of optimism and pessimism. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was subsequently conducted to determine the ability of perceived stress, humour, optimism, and pessimism, …
Women's Perceptions Of Successful Breastfeeding During The Early Stages Of Being A Mother, Shelagh Lawrence
Women's Perceptions Of Successful Breastfeeding During The Early Stages Of Being A Mother, Shelagh Lawrence
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The purpose of this qualitative study, guided by Rubin's Model was to describe women's perceptions of successful breastfeeding during the early stages of being a mother. The transition to motherhood marks a time of great developmental change in a woman's life. Infant feeding is an important aspect of this adaptation to the maternal role. The physiological benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby are well documented, but there is limited research on the psychological advantages of breastfeeding for the mother. This Masters research was a discrete part of a larger research project entitled the Perth Metropolitan Breastfeeding Study. This project …
The Lived Experience Of A Group Of Mothers, Geographically Isolated From Their Extended Families, In Establishing Their Social Support Networks, Stephanie Jackiewicz
The Lived Experience Of A Group Of Mothers, Geographically Isolated From Their Extended Families, In Establishing Their Social Support Networks, Stephanie Jackiewicz
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
This study explores the Jived experience of a group of women, geographically isolated from their extended family, as they establish their new support networks. It is based on the assumption that the shape and structure of families are constantly changing and evolving and this change in family structure impacts on both the parents and the children. One of the significant changes families are experiencing is the increasing isolation of the nuclear family from traditional family networks. It is the purpose of this study to explore the experience of this group of women to identify how the members establish their support …
Validation Of The Barkemeyer-Callon-Jones Malingering Detection Scale: The Ability Of A Scale Differentiate Simulating Malingers From Controls And Prior Litigants From Those With No Litigation Experience Within A Sample Of Men Who Have All Suffered Chronic Low Back Pain, David Curnow
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Chronic low back pain costs the community, and several authors have suggested that individuals often attempt to exaggerate chronic low back pain. Currently no reliable and valid scale for assessing malingering in chronic pain populations exists, and there is a large difference in opinion on the ability of experts using clinical judgment to detect malingering. The current study seeks to provide a validation for the BarkemeyerCallon-Jones Malingering Detection Scale (MDS) which has purported to be able to identify individuals attempting to malinger neurological conditions and pain. A simulation design was used, as in previous research, because it is difficult to …
What Is The Intimate Experience Of Couples Following The Woman's Cancer-Related Breast Surgery?, Lynne Amor
What Is The Intimate Experience Of Couples Following The Woman's Cancer-Related Breast Surgery?, Lynne Amor
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe and interpret the experience of couples following the woman's surgery for breast cancer, in order to gain an in depth understanding of how this mutilating surgery affects their everyday lives. Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in Australian women, and in most industrialised nations. Women in Australia have a one in fourteen lifetime risk of developing the disease. Little is known concerning what meanings this surgery brings to the intimacy experienced between partners. It is important to seek knowledge of the phenomenon of intimacy, how the couples understand …
Terminal Sliding Mode Control For Rigid Robotic Manipulators With Uncertain Dynamics, Nicola Ritter
Terminal Sliding Mode Control For Rigid Robotic Manipulators With Uncertain Dynamics, Nicola Ritter
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
This thesis presents two new adaptive control laws that use the terminal sliding mode technique for the tracking problem of rigid robotic manipulators with non-linearities, dynamic couplings and uncertain parameters. The first law provides a robust scheme which uses several properties of rigid robotic mauipulators and adaptively adjusts seven uncertain parameter bounds. The law ensures finite time error convergence to the system origin and is simple to implement The second law treats the manipulator as a partially known system. The known dynamics are used to build a nominal control law and the effects of unknown system dynamics arc compensated for …
The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv Infection, Nongluck Suwisith
The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv Infection, Nongluck Suwisith
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
This phenomenological study was undertaken to describe the meaning of living with HIV infection. Descriptive phenomenology was utilised to investigate the lived experiences of persons who had human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV/ AIDS), describe common elements, themes or patterns of lived experiences of persons with HIV / AIDS, and analyse the meaning of lived experiences of persons with HIV/ AIDS. Twelve Australians, experiencing HIV infection and participating in the community support groups in Perth, volunteered as participants. Two participated in the pilot study. The other ten participants were interviewed individually for the main study. Intensive open-end questions pertaining to the …
A Phenomenological Study Of The Homebirth Experience : The Couples Perspective, Susanjane Morison
A Phenomenological Study Of The Homebirth Experience : The Couples Perspective, Susanjane Morison
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experience of parents who have had a homebirth in the past two years in Perth. Studies conducted to date have predominantly used quantitative research methods, investigating the safety of homebirth and comparing home to hospital birth without exploring a couples experiences. A phenomenological approach was used as it seeks to understand human experience in context. The research design consisted of a field study, in which ten parent couples were interviewed and three homebirth videos observed. Data analysis was conducted according to the procedure outlined by Colaizzi (cited in Knaack, 1984, …