Digital Commons Network^™

Bilateral And Unilateral Resistance Training And Athletic Performance, Brendyn B. Appleby

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Specificity is a key programming principle for optimal transfer of physiological adaptation of training to improved athletic performance. In resistance training, it has long been identified that the closer the mechanical specificity between the training exercise and outcome performance, the greater the transfer of improved capacity. Bilateral resistance exercises are predominately prescribed for the development of maximum strength and are well demonstrated to enhance athletic performance. However, unilateral exercises appear to demonstrate greater specificity to movements such as running and change of direction as these movements are predominantly single leg actions. Nonetheless, the unstable nature and comparatively lower magnitude of …

The Ward-Based Nurse Clinical Educator: Impact On Student Learning Outcomes And Student And Preceptor Experiences, Karen Ann Mccarthy

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Aim

This study aimed to determine the impact of the implementation of a ward based Nurse Clinical Educator (NCE) role on students and staff at one health service whilst students were on clinical practicum at a Western Australian regional health care facility.

Question

The research question was: “What impact does the NCE support intervention have on students and clinical staff during clinical practicum?” Background Clinical experience for undergraduate student nurses (students) undertaking their bachelor’s degree is of utmost importance for gaining both competence and registration. Students encounter difficulties in obtaining opportunities to practice their skills and develop competence when on …

Influence Of A Drama Based Education Program On The Development Of Empathy In Year 10, Western Australian Students, Scott Corbett

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to understand which elements of the drama processes are most conducive to increasing empathy in adolescents. Empathy can have a significant impact on situational and dispositional pro-social behaviour in adolescents. It is positively related to moral development, healthy relationships and problem-solving skills; and negatively related to bullying behaviour, aggression, and victimisation. The practice of Creative Drama, in particular the work of Dorothy Heathcote and Bruce Burton, has informed drama programs that foster empathy in participants. This process, combined with the Actor Training system of Constantin Stanislavski, and the Forum Theatre model developed by Augusto …

Having A Known, Trusted Support Person During Labour And Birth: Perceptions Of Indonesian (Javanese) Women, Their Support Persons And Midwives, Natalia

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Childbirth is a life changing experience for women, yet most women feel anxious with regard to this event. Research has shown that support from family or friends can help to reduce anxiety intrapartum, however, the standard procedure at most maternity centres in Indonesia is to not allow any person in the birthing room except midwives.

This study investigated the impact of the presence of a support person on the anxiety of women giving birth in Surabaya, Indonesia. The originality of this study is in trying to understand the whole picture about support during labour and childbirth by listening to women, …

The Challenges Of Digital Legacy Management On The Value Of Digital Objects To Older Australians, Derani Nathasha Dissanayake

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

People spend a considerable amount of time and money in collecting digital objects. Nine out of ten Australians have a social media account but 83% of them have not discussed with their family members what should happen to their social media accounts when they die (Steen, D’Alessandro, Graves, Perkins, Genders, Barbera, Shi, McGrath & Davis, 2017). Only 3% of Australians who had a Will included social media accounts in their Wills. People collect digital objects yet little attention is paid to their preservation. 71% of Australians are unaware of what happens to their digital assets when they die (Ibid, 2017). …

Growing Phonological And Morphological Knowledge And Improving Spelling Outcomes In Year 2 Primary School Children Through Explicit Instruction And Contextualised Dictation, Sally Louise Robinson-Kooi

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Using Explicit Instruction (EI) to teach spelling is controversial because teaching approaches vary considerably in the contemporary classroom. Teachers may privilege visual over linguistic strategies and include target words based around themes, rather than the phono-morphological structures of words. There is also little current research about the benefits of using sentence dictation to practise taught spelling skills and thus to increase the likelihood of developing spelling automaticity. Spelling automaticity is important because it complements crucial reading and writing skills. Developing fluent spelling through EI, followed by sentence dictation, was a specific focus of this study.

Two primary schools in rural …

Smart Charging Strategies For Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Zeinab Moghaddam

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Although the concept of transportation electrification holds enormous prospects in addressing the global environmental pollution problem, consumer concerns over the limited availability of charging stations and long charging/waiting times are major contributors to the slow uptake of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in many countries. To address the consumer concerns, many countries have undertaken projects to deploy a network of both fast and slow charging stations, commonly known as electric vehicle charging networks.

While a large electric vehicle charging network will certainly be helpful in addressing PEV owners' concerns, the full potential of this network cannot be realised without the implementation …

Children’S Knowledge, Identity And Right To Participation In Driving Curriculum Decision-Making, Vanessa Wintoneak

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The research study investigated why and how educators make use of knowledge about children and their interests for the purpose of curriculum decision-making, and the subsequent influence on children’s involvement. The study took a Participatory Action Research approach and examined curriculum construction in childcare-based and school-based Kindergarten settings. Data were collected over a six-month period in 2018 from settings in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. Initial interviews were conducted with four Kindergarten educators to find out how they gathered and used information about children and their interests for curriculum purposes. These interviews were followed by a curriculum intervention …

Smart Management Strategies Of Utility-Scale Energy Storage Systems In Power Networks, Choton Kanti Das

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Power systems are presently experiencing a period of rapid change driven by various interrelated issues, e.g., integration of renewables, demand management, power congestion, power quality requirements, and frequency regulation. Although the deployment of Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) has been shown to provide effective solutions to many of these issues, misplacement or non-optimal sizing of these systems can adversely affect network performance. This present research has revealed some novel working strategies for optimal allocation and sizing of utility-scale ESSs to address some important issues of power networks at both distribution and transmission levels. The optimization strategies employed for ESS placement and …

Giving Voice To The Extra-Normal Self With The Extra-Normal Voice: Improvised Exploration Through The Realms Of Shamanic Chaos Magick, Insight Meditation And Gender Performance, Sage Harlow

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis documents practice-led research exploring the intersections of, and tensions between, improvised invocation ritual within a chaos magick paradigm and Buddhist insight meditation. I explore the extra-normal self—those aspects of consciousness not usually present, or not usually accessible, in day-to-day life—by mean of improvised ritual work with the extra-normal voice and seek to maintain a Buddhist ‘witness’ consciousness throughout these explorations. I also explore the tensions between politics, aesthetics and spiritual practice; in particular, queer and trans politics, a timbre-centred vocal aesthetics and chaos magick, shamanic and Buddhist spiritual practices. This work constitutes part of a larger project of …

A Qualitative Study Into The Communication Surrounding The Initiation And Withdrawal Of Non-Invasive Ventilation (Niv) In People With Motor Neurone Disease, Charlotte Chapman

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Introduction

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a degenerative disease that adversely affects the nervous system and muscular control. Eventually respiratory muscles weaken, causing breathing, communication and swallowing difficulties, and ultimately, respiratory failure and death. Improved quality of life and potentially a short extension of life can be provided with non-invasive ventilation (NIV), which is offered to people with MND when symptoms of respiratory distress become evident.

It is recommended that end-of-life communication, encompassing the benefits and burdens of symptom-relieving interventions (NIV and percutaneous gastrostomy tube to assist with nutrition), NIV withdrawal (proposed when continued use is considered futile) and other …

Beyond The Numbers: Implications Of The Palestinian Female Election Quota For Women In Local Government, Elke Taylor

Theses : Honours

Palestinian women have contributed a rich and diverse history of political participation amidst the complex and anarchic political landscape of Palestine. The informal contributions of Palestinian women have played an integral and significant role in democratisation, peace-building efforts and the progression of women's rights. Despite forging and maintaining an active political presence, the political roles of women have been largely informal, localised and heavily contested. The recent establishment of female election quotas have greatly progressed the formalisation of women's political roles, brought about an increase in political participation and the representation of women in political institutions. In spite of these …

‘Bloodwood’ And ‘Liminal Spaces, Timeless Places: Abjection, Liminality And Landscape In Australian Gothic Fiction’, Karleah Olson

Theses : Honours

This creative honours project comprises a work of fiction titled ‘Bloodwood’ and an accompanying exegetical essay, exploring the concept of liminal space within the Australian landscape. It investigates the anxieties and consequences of past trauma that linger within the landscape of modern Australia, exploring themes such as time, connection to nature, trauma and grief. Using Julia Kristeva’s abjection theory, particularly her ideas on liminal space, this work addresses the contentious issue of postcolonial theory within the field of literary studies, as well as the concept of grief as a liminal process. These ideas are explored through the storylines of three …

Facial Re-Enactment, Speech Synthesis And The Rise Of The Deepfake, Nicholas Gardiner

Theses : Honours

Emergent technologies in the fields of audio speech synthesis and video facial manipulation have the potential to drastically impact our societal patterns of multimedia consumption. At a time when social media and internet culture is plagued by misinformation, propaganda and “fake news”, their latent misuse represents a possible looming threat to fragile systems of information sharing and social democratic discourse. It has thus become increasingly recognised in both academic and mainstream journalism that the ramifications of these tools must be examined to determine what they are and how their widespread availability can be managed.

This research project seeks to examine …

The Performer-Composer: A Reimagined Career Pathway For The Modern-Day Saxophonist, Jazmin Ealden

Theses : Honours

The ambiguity of the twenty-first century classical musician career pathway has resulted in a change of professional traditions and opportunities for musicians both within Australia and internationally. The literature discussing the portfolio career model of musicians demonstrates a clear place for this career in the current music industry; one such pathway is that of the performercomposer musician. The aim of this research project was to explore the career pathways of three performer-composer saxophonists. Specifically, this study aimed to identify the change and development of traditional composer-performer roles, explore the fluidity in the spectrum of composer and performer led creative outputs, …

Job Embeddedness And Turnover Intentions: The Moderating Role Of Affectivity Traits, Career Stages And Perceptions Of Organisational Politics, Emmanuel Twumasi Ampofo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The study tested the applicability of job embeddedness (JE) theory in Ghana. It also examined moderating effects of affectivity traits, career stage and perceptions of organisational politics (POP) on the JE–turnover intentions relationship. Analyses revealed that composite JE and its dimensions and sub-dimensions (except community fit) were negatively related to turnover intentions. Affectivity traits, POP and career stages moderated the JE–turnover intentions relationship. The study expands the predictive validity of JE to Ghana and adds to the few moderators that have been identified in previous studies. Strategies for increasing managerial employees’ embeddedness and reducing their turnover are proposed.

Waiting For A Queer Change: Gender Identity Through Performative Waiting And The Boudoir Chronotope In Call Me By Your Name, Gregory R. Clarke

Theses : Honours

This thesis analyses André Aciman’s novel, Call Me By Your Name (2007), in light of its portrayal of a nineteen-eighties gay relationship that is not entirely defined by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Rather than the abjection associated with illness and death, I focus on the narrative’s evocation of pleasure and love for its protagonists, Elio and Oliver, who do not identify as exclusively gay. My argument focuses on Elio exemplifying and undermining Roland Barthes’ trope of the lover-who-waits as historically ‘feminine’ in A Lover’s Discourse. In doing so, I demonstrate how Barthes’s work prefigures Judith Butler’s gender performativity theory.

First, …

Su Dansi. A Dance Film – And – Dancing Elements: The Making Of Su Dansi - A Dance Film. An Exegesis, Johanna Omodei

Theses : Honours

This research project titled Dancing Elements explores choreographic conversations between the body and natural elements, specifically water on film. I question how natural elements when viewed in relation to the dancing body, can begin to be seen as a dancing entity. This research is divided between scholarship and the creation of a new dance film, su dansi which is Turkish for ‘water dance.’ su dansi is a collaborative and explorative outcome that plays with the dancing body and water through the art form of film. Drawing from author Sylvie Vitaglione (2016), I have adopted her term “natural elements’’ in reference …

Dna Methylation Of The Clusterin Promoter: Associations With Alzheimer’S Disease Risk And Related Phenotypes, Madeline Peretti

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background

In 2017 approximately 50 million people worldwide were living with dementia. With Alzheimer’s disease (AD), accounting for 50-70% of dementia cases making this debilitating disease, with no current effective prevention, treatment or cure, a critical healthcare concern. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a number of risk genes for late onset AD (LOAD); Apolipoprotein E (APOE), a gene involved in the cholesterol/lipid pathway is considered the gene with the greatest risk. The third most associated AD risk gene is Clusterin (CLU), is also involved in the cholesterol/lipid pathway. CLU has been implicated in both …

Their Sorrow, Their Story: The Lived Experience Of Individuals Impacted By The Death Of Special Forces Members In The 1996 Black Hawk Accident, Marion Ann Smyth

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

On the 12 June 1996, the Australian Special Forces were conducting night-time counterterrorism training when two Black Hawk helicopters transporting Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) troops collided mid-air. Eighteen personnel were killed, including members from the elite SASR and crew from the 5th Aviation Regiment. In the aftermath of this accident a charity, the Special Air Service Resources Trust, was established to provide ongoing support to the dependants of those killed. This trust is now the Special Air Service Resources Fund (SASRF), and it continues to support the dependants of those killed and the injured from the accident.

There is …

Disability Access And Local Government: Co-Researching The City Of Bunbury’S Aim To Become The Most Accessible Regional City In Australia, Adam Johnson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study used Participatory Action Research (PAR) to investigate the facilitators of disability access in local government, with a focus on the City of Bunbury in Western Australia. In 2014, the City of Bunbury adopted a long-term aspirational goal to become the Most Accessible Regional City in Australia (MARCIA), and the findings and recommendations from this study are intended to inform strategic priorities for achieving that goal, including a potential change of corporate approach required to attain MARCIA status. The thesis critically evaluates the historical, cultural and systemic factors that have influenced accessibility and inclusion in the development of Bunbury’s …

The Placenta And Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis, Ruben Phillips

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The uterine environment in which a fetus grows and develops is now recognised as a risk factor for the development of adult diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). A fetus relies on the nutrients and conditions delivered via the placenta, and as such the placenta plays a vital role in the establishment and maintenance of appropriate uterine conditions. Unfavourable uterine conditions such as an inadequate resource flow from the placenta can lead to diminished growth of the fetus and may ultimately result in both short and long-term increases in risk of CVD for the baby. This has been demonstrated in …

Projected Sea Level Rise And The Conservation Ecology Of The Micronesian Megapode (Megapodius Laperouse Senex) In Palau, Micronesia, Paul M. Radley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Climate change has been a subject of numerous studies. While findings suggest that most biological taxa will be affected by its manifestations, aspects of a species life history may increase its susceptibility to climate change. Given their reliance on environmental sources of heat to incubate their eggs, I examined the vulnerability to climate change of the avian family Megapodiidae. I also assessed habitat use, susceptibility to sea level rise, and the effect of introduced rats and tourist presence, as added stressors to climate change, on the Micronesian Megapode (Megapodius

laperouse senex) in Palau.

Based on available literature, I …

Intrinsic Variations In Geometric Properties Of Nonlinear Equivalent Strut Models For Infill-Rc Frames, Bruna Kirch Nienkotter Rocha

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Reinforced concrete frames infilled with unreinforced masonry are commonly used in structures worldwide. The interaction between the frame and the infill panel is usually ignored in engineering practice, and the masonry infill is not considered as a structural element. However, observations made after the occurrence of strong earthquakes have shown that the bare frame and infill-frame behave differently when subjected to in-plane lateral loads. Extensive research has been conducted on the behaviour of infill-frames when laterally loaded. This research focuses on the analysis of infill-frames using the equivalent strut modelling method, whereby an infill-frame is simplified, and the infill panel …

Mothers’ Experiences Of Their Adult Child’S Interethnic Relationship, Nikki Rajakaruna

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The number of interethnic relationships is increasing in many countries around the world. Research regarding the experiences of interethnic couples indicates considerable variation in the reactions of parents towards such relationship types (as reported by those within the relationship). In some studies, significant and sometimes violent opposition has been reported, resulting in negative consequences for the adult child, the couple and presumably the parents. Despite such reports, no research has considered the experiences of parents from the perspective of parents themselves. As such, I explored mothers’ experiences of their child’s interethnic relationship with the aim of determining the nature of …

Wettability Of Quartz Surfaces Under Carbon Dioxide Geo-Sequestration Conditions. A Theoretical Study, Aleksandr Abramov

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The wettability of rocks under reservoir conditions is important to ensure and secure long term underground storage of carbon dioxide. The composition of those rocks vary significantly and are influenced by the fact that quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the earth's continental crust. Thus, the CO2 wettability of quartz dominates the overall CO2 trapping performance of storage and cap rocks. If depleted oil or gas reservoirs are used for storage of CO2 quartz surfaces of rocks in reservoirs which have been previously exposed to hydrocarbons might be covered with chemisorpt hydrocarbon molecules. The CO2 wettability of these …

Emerging Strategies For Western Australian Secondary School Jazz Ensemble Directors: Improving Engagement With Drum Set Students, Gregory Roy Brenton

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Drum set education is a specialised field, but its importance is often underestimated in Western Australian (WA) secondary school jazz ensembles. Many secondary school jazz ensemble directors specialise in instruments other than drum set, and consequently may lack knowledge and skills in this area to the detriment of both the drum set student and the ensemble. This research project investigated the interaction between selected secondary school jazz ensemble directors in WA, and their drum set students during rehearsals. In particular, it set out to examine the impact of the jazz ensemble director on student engagement, inclusion, leadership, collaborative learning and …

Video Cued Teacher Reflection To Guide Enhancement Of Student Engagement In A Specialist Primary Classroom, Tamara Nicole Standley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Specialist primary teachers confront the challenging task of teaching extensive learning content of the Western Australian Curriculum, within limited weekly timetabled lessons. This was the motivating factor behind this study aimed at investigating the use of self-tracking video technology as a tool for teacher reflection, to guide enhancement of student engagement and learning in the specialist classroom. Reflective practice is integral to monitoring and improving teaching pedagogy but without an effective reflection tool, it can potentially be a waste of time.

The capacity for a teacher to engage in reflection-on-action through real time video analysis enables a deeper understanding of …

The Impact Of Video As A Self-Reflective Tool For Improvement Of Teacher Feedback Practices, Julia Mueller

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Teacher reflection on instructional practices can improve performance and positively influence student achievement. This qualitative quasi-ethnographic study investigated the impact of self-tracking video technology as a reflective tool for improvement of teacher feedback in a specialist primary classroom. Video provided observational data which was analysed using a checklist and researcher and reviewer annotations. The study concluded that the teacher used non-specific feedback strategies more than specific-feedback to respond to behavioural, engagement and learning issues. Thus, context was identified as an important determinant of effectiveness in feedback. The video technology features enhanced the teacher’s reflection and strengthened the collaborative reflective processes.

Parents As Partners In Learning, Stephanie Louise Mcdonald

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Globally, teachers and school leaders are increasingly encouraging parents to become more directly involved in their children’s schooling and academic development. This study was designed to support the parents of students who experience difficulty with academic learning via a school-based Parent Mindset Program comprised of three parent engagement workshops delivered fortnightly over six weeks by a teacher. The Program was designed to support participants to practice growth mindset knowledge and skills at home with their child and receive feedback to support skill mastery. Cognitive tools were used to create the social process essential for learning by providing a point of …