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Theses/Dissertations

Edith Cowan University

2002

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A Study Of The Influences Of Computer Interfaces And Training Approaches On End User Training Outcomes, Raj Gururajan Jan 2002

A Study Of The Influences Of Computer Interfaces And Training Approaches On End User Training Outcomes, Raj Gururajan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Effective and efficient training is a key factor in determining the success of end user computing (EUC) in organisations. This study examines the influences of two application interfaces, namely icons and menus, on training outcomes. The training outcomes are measured in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and perceived ease of use. Effectiveness includes the keystrokes used to accomplish tasks, the accuracy of correct keystrokes, backtracks and errors committed. Efficiency includes the time taken to accomplish the given tasks. Perceived ease of use rates the ease of the training environment including training materials, operating system, application software and associated resources provided to …

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The Living Artist, Haruhisa Handa Jan 2002

The Living Artist, Haruhisa Handa

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

"The Living Artist" describes Haruhisa Handa's diverse activities in the arts as analyzed by himself. He investigates why he ventured out to learn both western and eastern styles of art, and researches what it is that truly motivates him to take on such challenging activities. In this thesis, Handa begins with recollections and an evaluation of his own life. At present he is Involved In art from a wide variety of periods and cultures Including calligraphy, painting, tea ceremony, and Noh drama from Japanese culture, oil painting, composition, classical music and ballet from western culture as well as classical Chinese …

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An Exploration Of The Transcending Experience In The Art-Making Process, Veronica Aldous Jan 2002

An Exploration Of The Transcending Experience In The Art-Making Process, Veronica Aldous

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study explored the transcending experience as described by visual artists that sometimes occurs during the art-making process. The exploration was conducted within a philosophical framework informed by the researcher's practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM). From this perspective, transcending is related to personal, inner (subjective), and ephemeral aesthetic experiences which never-the-less make a powerful contribution to the visual artist's experience of the creative process and to a lesser extent, the final product. The focus of the study was on the identification and documentation of the personal and subjective aspects of art-making. The study consisted of two parts; (a) this written …

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Modulation Classification Of Digital Communication Signals, Visalakshi S. Ramakonar Jan 2002

Modulation Classification Of Digital Communication Signals, Visalakshi S. Ramakonar

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Modulation classification of digital communications signals plays an important role in both military and civilian sectors. It has the potential of replacing several receivers with one universal receiver. An automatic modulation classifier can be defined as a system that automatically identifies the modulation type of the received signal given that the signal exists and its parameters lie in a known range. This thesis addresses the need for a universal modulation classifier capable of classifying a comprehensive list of digital modulation schemes. Two classification approaches are presented: a decision-theoretic (DT) approach and a neural network (NN) approach. First classifiers are introduced …

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The Computation Choices Made By Students In Years 5 To 7, Paul Swan Jan 2002

The Computation Choices Made By Students In Years 5 To 7, Paul Swan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study was designed to explore the computation choices made by 78 students in Years 5 to 7. The ability to choose and use a repertoire of computation methods is an important goal of mathematics education. While one might expect to find a great deal of research outlining the computation choices students make and why they make them, this was not the case; and as such it was decided to explore what computation choices students make and why they make them.

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A Comparison Of Perceived Social Responsibility Standards With Perceived Social Responsibility Performance In The Australian Banking Industry : A Stakeholder Analysis, William J. Phillips Jan 2002

A Comparison Of Perceived Social Responsibility Standards With Perceived Social Responsibility Performance In The Australian Banking Industry : A Stakeholder Analysis, William J. Phillips

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study is to investigate extent to which Australian banking corporations embrace social responsibility. It endeavours to establish the meaning of social responsibility generally and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in particular. In view of the multiple definitions of the concept of ‘social responsibility’ offered by various authors Such.1 Boatright (1993), Freeman (1994), Walters (1977), and Wheeler (1998), the views of power dependent Australian bank stakeholders were solicited to form an operational definition for the study. This created a collective conception of social responsibility as it is applied to Australian banks, allowing corporate social responsibility standards to be …

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Mutation Detection For Genotype/Phenotype Correlation Studies In Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Marie Mccluskey Jan 2002

Mutation Detection For Genotype/Phenotype Correlation Studies In Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Marie Mccluskey

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common genetic disorders (Gabow, 1993), with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 400 to 1 in 1000 (Dalgaard, 1957; Gabow, 1993). The disease is the fourth leading cause of renal failure with more than 10 million people affected worldwide (Grantham, 1997). Mutations in at least two genes (PKD1, PKD2) can lead to the disease (European PDK Consortium, 1994; Mochizuki, et al, 1996). This project deals with autosomal dominant PKD, caused by mutations in the PKD1 gene, which account for 85% of reported cases.

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A Retrospective Cohort Study Of Workers' Compensation Indicators From An Occupational Safety And Health Perspective, Alan D. Verdonk Jan 2002

A Retrospective Cohort Study Of Workers' Compensation Indicators From An Occupational Safety And Health Perspective, Alan D. Verdonk

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Since 1984 the role of the government in Western Australia, has changed in relation to occupational safety and health. This study considers the effect of the occupational safety and health legislation using workers' compensation accident data. Academic and general staff accident data from a Western Australian University were researched. The time period is 20 years- 1979 through 1998 inclusive. 2,773 worker's compensation claims were analysed using Mann Whitney -U tests and cross-tabulations of safety prevention expenditure against the claims. The work environment provides the full spectrum of workplace activities ranging from domicile duties (student housing services) to heavy machinery work …

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A Study Of How Well Lower Secondary Students Use Calculators To Solve Computation Problems, Rachel Shipley Jan 2002

A Study Of How Well Lower Secondary Students Use Calculators To Solve Computation Problems, Rachel Shipley

Theses : Honours

The main aim of this study was to determine how well students used their calculators to obtain the correct answer to a problem (effective calculator use). The study has also considered whether students used their calculators as efficiently as possible, in order to answer questions expediently (efficient calculator use). This research made use of a Calculator Computation Test and Answer Sheet which was used for checking the accuracy of subjects' answers as well as recording which keys they pressed to obtain their answer. These were developed for the study. The subjects were drawn from Years 8, 9 and 10 of …

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John Forrest: Western Australia Under The Banyan Tree, Zoë Janina Yökki Joy Trotman Jan 2002

John Forrest: Western Australia Under The Banyan Tree, Zoë Janina Yökki Joy Trotman

Theses : Honours

This story is about a man named John Forrest, my great-great-great uncle. I want to Investigate how he shaped and enacted upon the space we now call the State of Western Australia: as explorer, as surveyor, and as Premier. The photographs in my thesis explore how he impacted upon the landscape that we currently observe: they illustrate ways in which his past influence can be detected in the landmarks of our state, and they act as evidence of the “bigger picture”, demonstrating the effects his influence has had on the present condition of the land itself. Forrest helped construct many …

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Travellers And The Industrial Revolution: Observations Of Cornwall, Cynthia Lane Jan 2002

Travellers And The Industrial Revolution: Observations Of Cornwall, Cynthia Lane

Theses : Honours

The following dissertation is a "contribution to contemporary debates about the industrial revolution and the perpetuation of 'differcnce'."1 It covers the era of Cornish industrialisation and the attendant socio-economic and cultural changes from the emergence of copper mining in the 1690s to the eve of its crash in 1866, through the observations of a selection of contemporary travellers/writers. It explores the image of Com wall through West Barbary versus Industrial Civilisation, and compares the county's processes of industrialisation with the canonical industrial revolution of the midlands and the north of England. Cornwall is examined as an example of the …

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An Investigation Of The Perceptions Of The Policy Maker, Teachers And Students Of The Current Primary 4 Gifted Education Program In Singapore, Veeramangai Arulselvi Muthiah Jan 2002

An Investigation Of The Perceptions Of The Policy Maker, Teachers And Students Of The Current Primary 4 Gifted Education Program In Singapore, Veeramangai Arulselvi Muthiah

Theses : Honours

As Singapore is a rapidly expanding technological society, there is a strong need for emergent thinkers or innovators due to global competition. Therefore, the identification of exceptionally able children is critical for the continued growth of Singapore. Singapore is a very small nation and relies strongly on human resources for its progress and prosperity. Hence, early identification of exceptionally able children will be an advantage to the nation. Education of gifted and talented children is just as important as the education of children with disabilities or developmental delay. In addition, there is growing concern among many Singaporeans that the current …

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Validating The Use Of The Shuttle Walking Test In Healthy Adult Women, Micheal C.M. Lim Jan 2002

Validating The Use Of The Shuttle Walking Test In Healthy Adult Women, Micheal C.M. Lim

Theses : Honours

The Shuttle Walking Test (SWT), with its externally paced characteristics, is commonly used as an objective measure of functional capacity. The reliability and validity of the SWT has been previously shown but only in patient populations. No studies have been carried out to investigate the validity of the SWT in healthy adult women. Therefore, the primary aim of this test was to determine if the SWT is a valid field measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy adult women. A secondary aim was to identify if variables, such as age, body composition and habitual physical activity influence performance on the SWT. …

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The Use Of Photographic Caricatures To Examine The Development Of A Perception Of Facial Attractiveness, Bronwyn J. Struthers Jan 2002

The Use Of Photographic Caricatures To Examine The Development Of A Perception Of Facial Attractiveness, Bronwyn J. Struthers

Theses : Honours

Throughout the human population, there is remarkable agreement as to what constitutes an attractive face. The consistency of attractiveness ratings across age, gender and culture has led to a search for an underlying construct that determines facial attractiveness. Langlois and Roggman (1990) proposed the "average is attractive" hypothesis arguing that facial attractiveness is determined by the level of averageness of facial features. Langlois and Roggman (1990) created composite faces to examine this hypothesis but their methodology was criticised, particularly because the technique used to create the composites tended to remove facial flaws and blemishes. This led to the argument that …

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Government And Sport : The Case Of The Western Australian Football Commission, Gregory Italiano Jan 2002

Government And Sport : The Case Of The Western Australian Football Commission, Gregory Italiano

Theses : Honours

This study is based on the premise that sport occupies a unique and prominent position in Australian culture, such that it can be considered in institutional terms. Sport's interaction with another institution in Australian society - government, has undergone significant changes in the second half of the twentieth century. This changing relationship has had a substantial impact on sports public policy. The purpose of this study is to describe and explore this relationship in greater depth by examining the case of the Western Australian Football Commission (the 'Commission'). Australian Rules Football ('Football') is the largest spectator sport in Australia and …

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The Relationship Between Movement Confidence And Level Of Physical Activity In Older Adults, Alastair Stewart Jan 2002

The Relationship Between Movement Confidence And Level Of Physical Activity In Older Adults, Alastair Stewart

Theses : Honours

The movement confidence model proposed by Griffin and Keogh (1982) determined level of movement confidence by including sensations of enjoyment and fear of harm as well as perceived competence. Whilst this has been studied in children there is a paucity of research into older Australian adults. For the purposes of this study Australian older adults were defined as people over 50 years of age, permanently residing in Australia. Therefore, this study had four major purposes. The first purpose was to identify the relative contributions of (a) perceived competence (PC), (b) enjoyment (EN), and (c) fear of harm (FH) to movement …

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Boundaries Of Socio-Political Discourse In The Singapore Media : The Out-Of-Bounds (Ob) Markers, Tan Pin Yang Jan 2002

Boundaries Of Socio-Political Discourse In The Singapore Media : The Out-Of-Bounds (Ob) Markers, Tan Pin Yang

Theses : Honours

November 1990, with the stepping down of Singapore's inaugural Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, saw the changing of the guard in Singapore, together with the promise of a more consultative style of government and greater citizen participation. However, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) had been quick to point out that the new openness did not mean that they would tolerate undue criticisms of the government. Participants in political discussions are thus constrained by the Out-of-bounds markers (OB markers) which dictate the rules of political engagement and the topics which are deemed by the PAP as too sensitive for public …

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Does Plant Morphology Influence Fish Fauna Associated With Seagrass Meadows?, Michael C. Burt Jan 2002

Does Plant Morphology Influence Fish Fauna Associated With Seagrass Meadows?, Michael C. Burt

Theses : Honours

Three distinct seagrass habitats were sampled to determine whether fish assemblages differed between meadows comprising of different seagrass species with different morphological characteristics and whether plant morphology influences species assemblages. Three seagrass habitats consisting of Posidonia sinuosa, Posidonia coriacea and meadows of a mixture of P. coriacea and Heterozostera tasmanica in the Success Bank region, off the coast of Fremantle, Western Australia were selected. For each habitat, sampling was carried out using a 1m wide beam trawl over a distance of 50m at six replicated locations, on three occasions between June and September 2002. Seagrass samples were collected at each …

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A Deconstruction And Reconstruction Of Advanced Nurse Specialisation And Education, Miriam E. Langridge Jan 2002

A Deconstruction And Reconstruction Of Advanced Nurse Specialisation And Education, Miriam E. Langridge

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to present issues and the paradoxes surrounding advanced nurse specialisation (ANS) and education, This study was conducted in two parts. Part A examined the prospective experiences of 13 registered nurses (RNs) who were advancing in an area of special is III ion: they were working in a specialist area of practice and studying in II course specific 10 their specialisation. Two rounds of interviews were completed over six-month intervals. Part B examined the data gathered from a focus group interview and follow-up feedback from 10 nurse executives as stakeholders. The intersubjective data from this …

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Developing Generic Skills For Tertiary Students In An Online Learning Environment, Joseph Luca Jan 2002

Developing Generic Skills For Tertiary Students In An Online Learning Environment, Joseph Luca

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Increasingly, higher education institutions are being asked by industry, government and funding bodies to produce graduates with versatile generic skills as well as subject knowledge and expertise. This is causing a major reappraisal of higher education institutions purpose, learning outcomes and research activities. Many institutions are experiencing problems in implementing effective teaching and learning strategies to promote the development of these skills. The study sought to investigate ways of developing students' generic skills through the design and implementation of a learning environment that incorporated three key learning principles - authenticity, self-regulation and reflection. These were integrated into a course design …

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Student Learning And Cognition In Cooperative Small Groups : Towards A Fourth Metaphor Of Human Learning, Scott C. Zehnder Jan 2002

Student Learning And Cognition In Cooperative Small Groups : Towards A Fourth Metaphor Of Human Learning, Scott C. Zehnder

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Research into the benefits of cooperative learning has focussed most attention onto a social psychological perspective with the result that the putative cognitive benefits of these strategies have not been thoroughly researched and clearly delineated. One consequence of this research focus has been that cooperative learning strategies are not always adopted by teachers and included permanently into their regular classroom practice, thereby possibly denying some students the potential for cognitive gain. This study was conceived originally as an investigation into the claimed cognitive benefits of small-group cooperative learning from a cognitive perspective but the investigation of the cooperative learning literature …

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Teachers' Perceptions Of Quality Teaching In Junior Secondary School : Physical Education In Lagos State, Nigeria, Adesulue B. Adegbamigbe Jan 2002

Teachers' Perceptions Of Quality Teaching In Junior Secondary School : Physical Education In Lagos State, Nigeria, Adesulue B. Adegbamigbe

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study investigates physical education (PE) teachers' perceptions of quality teaching as related to their teaching activities in junior secondary schools in Nigeria. The study also investigated how the perceived teaching quality of the teachers matched their teaching practices and the feasibility of supporting quality teaching in these schools. The research is underpinned by a conceptual framework, which identified quality teaching as an educational process influenced by the curriculum, teacher effectiveness, teacher reflection and belief systems, and teacher development process designed to enhance students' learning. The study incorporated a descriptive survey and interpretive case study for data collection. A pilot …

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Irene Greenwood: A Voice For Peace, Kaye Murray Jan 2002

Irene Greenwood: A Voice For Peace, Kaye Murray

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The thesis establishes the contribution to feminism and the peace of Western Australian broadcaster, (Dr.) Irene Greenwood (AM). In spite of efforts by organised peace groups to persuade governments of the social, political and environmental consequences of violence and warfare, ours is still a violent and war-torn world. Feminism has made significant contributions to peace and justice and Greenwood’s social activism provides the opportunity to explore these links. The media are a powerful tool for social change. In a global climate where violence and warfare are the media’s currency, Irene Greenwood’s broadcasting career provides opportunities to explore the historical connections …

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Home And Away: The Tourist, The Flâneur And Everyday Life, John S. Gates Jan 2002

Home And Away: The Tourist, The Flâneur And Everyday Life, John S. Gates

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis examines the role and status of the tourist in the present day. It argues that the tourist, and the touristic experience, is emblematic of the consumption-based economy of late capitalism. It analyses tourism as a practice of, rather than opposed to, everyday life, for many subjects in late-capitalist Western society. The argument is developed by comparing and contrasting the tourist with the flâneur. The flâneur is regarded as a representative subjectivity of early modernity who developed visual and spatial practices, methodologies of movement and observation, which interpreted the city. The tourist's relationship with the global spaces of the …

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Factors Affecting The Bit Error Rate Performance Of The Indoor Radio Propagation Channel For 2.3-2.5 Ghz Frequency Band, Edward A. Walker Jan 2002

Factors Affecting The Bit Error Rate Performance Of The Indoor Radio Propagation Channel For 2.3-2.5 Ghz Frequency Band, Edward A. Walker

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The use of wireless in buildings based on microwave radio technology has recently become a viable alternative to the traditional wired transmission media. Because of the portable nature of radio transceivers, the need for extensive cabling of buildings with either twisted pair, coaxial, or optical fibre cable is eliminated. This is particularly desirable where high user mobility occurs and existing wiring is not in place, or buildings are heritage in nature and extensive cabling is seen as intrusive. Economic analysis bas also shown that significant labour cost savings can result by using a radio system or a hybrid mix of …

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Fatigue, Ambulance Perspectives In A Comparative Study Between Air And Road Transports, Wayne J. Mckenna Jan 2002

Fatigue, Ambulance Perspectives In A Comparative Study Between Air And Road Transports, Wayne J. Mckenna

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The study of fatigue in the health and transport sectors has predominantly been focused on night shift or day shift operations. This study has been applied to the hours of operation of Ambulance Officers who perform both night and day shifts, while also being required for on-call. The Officer on-call is on stand-by between shifts, to be available to respond for duties from the completion of one shift until the commencement of the next, usually a ten-hour shift. Studies of a similar focus have not been identified so a comparison of these specific findings has not been possible. However trends …

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Remote Audiences Beyond 2000 : Radio, Everyday Life And Development In South India, Thomas J. Yesudhasan Jan 2002

Remote Audiences Beyond 2000 : Radio, Everyday Life And Development In South India, Thomas J. Yesudhasan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The core of this thesis is that radio remains an important communication tool for tribal communities living In remote hill areas of South India. Some of the more salient findings relate to media uses and preferences ot people, suggesting that sophisticated negotiations take place between audiences and media. These Include suspicion of television and its impact upon work practices and education, the organization of time and space to accommodate radio and television Into people's busy daily lives, and the recognition that radio may be a more Innovative medium than television. These conclusions have been reached from an In- depth qualitative …

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The Use Of Scaffolding To Improve Student Learning With Interactive Multimedia Programs In Chemistry, Brian T. Grimes Jan 2002

The Use Of Scaffolding To Improve Student Learning With Interactive Multimedia Programs In Chemistry, Brian T. Grimes

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The process of balancing and interpreting chemical equations involves the consideration of an abstract, non-observable phenomenon coupled with multi-level representation. Students find it conceptually demanding to visualise the particulate level of matter and hence experience difficulty in balancing chemical equations with understanding. Interactive multimedia with dynamic computer graphics can provide students with accurate, concrete representations of the particulate nature of matter. Such tools, when coupled with appropriate implementation strategies, have the potential to improve learning about chemical reactions. The study investigated the use of scaffolding techniques to enhance and direct student learning when using an interactive multimedia software (IMM) program, …

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Church, Chapel And Clergy In Margaret Oliphant's Chronicles Of Carlingford, Karen A. King Jan 2002

Church, Chapel And Clergy In Margaret Oliphant's Chronicles Of Carlingford, Karen A. King

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis examines the fictional works of Magaret Oliphant’s Chronicles of Carlingford in order to explain her understanding of the significance of Church and Chapel communities and their clergymen within an insular and atypical provincial community in mid-nineteenth century England. By drawing on a variety of examples in the novels and in real life, the thesis argues that Oliphant was a serious commentator on religious matters and controversies and not just a teller of tales. The thesis will address the significance of Oliphant’s engagement with a range of religious and social matters concerning the Church of England with a qualified …

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Crossing Over The Line : Becoming A Marijuana User Alters Perceptions Of Source And Message Credibility In Anti-Drug Campaigns, Fiona Perman Jan 2002

Crossing Over The Line : Becoming A Marijuana User Alters Perceptions Of Source And Message Credibility In Anti-Drug Campaigns, Fiona Perman

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Illicit-drug use is a major problem in our society. Policing, charging and incarcerating offenders incurs a significant strain on government resources, and results in criminal records for those found guilty. This study examines the attitudes and beliefs of young adults (18-24 years) toward social marketing messages about marijuana and other illicit-drug use. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect various levels of marijuana use have on young people’s acceptance of anti-drug messages. That is, do source and message credibility change as a result of young people’s experience of marijuana use?

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