Digital Commons Network^™

The Marketing Orientation Of The West Australian Wine Industry, Michael J. Stansby

Theses : Honours

Marketing academics and practitioners have been studying the effects of marketing orientation on the level business performance for many years. To date, there has been little effort to develop a valid measure of marketing orientation, and analyse its impact on business performance. Because of the lack of such a measure, companies possess no specific guidelines how they may become more marketing orientated. This study presents a valid measure of marketing orientation and analyses its effect on business performance. A conceptual model for marketing orientation is presented. This model comprises of four components: customer orientation; competitor orientation; interfunctional coordination; and long-term …

The Systematic Interest Rate Risk Of The Returns On Australian Bank Shares, Michael Shanahan

Theses : Honours

This paper examines the relationship bank share returns have with interest rate changes. Specifically, what is the systematic interest rate risk of Australian bank share returns. The reasons why bank shares and interest rates possibly have a relationship with interest rates are numerous, interrelated and complicated. Shares and interest rates generally have a relationship because of the comparison made between interest bearing securities and dividend paying shares. However, the relationship is compounded with banks, because of their exposure to interest rate risk. This paper involves two separate analyses. The firp.t part involves attempting to measure a bank share's interest rate …

Determinants Of A Firm's Approach To Accounting For Goodwill, Christine E. Taylor

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study is to ascertain factors that may explain an Australian firm's approach to accounting for goodwill and to examine the diversity that existed in accounting for goodwill in the pre-standard era. Utilising a costly contracting framework, determinants of the accounting policy choice are proposed and three separate groups of hypotheses are formulated. The ex ante hypothesis in this study utilises industry as an explanatory variable that would be expected to explain the motivations of accounting choices by firms. It was found that there is no significant association between industry classification and the choice of method in …

The Effect Of Word Processing On The Revising/Editing Strategies Of Primary Esl Writers, L. John Oliver

Theses : Honours

The focus of this study was on the effect of word processing on the revising and editing strategies of primary ESL writers. Six year 5/6 'intensive' ESL students completed a number of written tasks, using both computer and conventional 'pen and paper' methods. Their handwritten and word processed work was analysed and compared in terms of the frequency, nature and extent of changes made. Statistical analysis of these data, as well as audio-taped verbal protocols, interviews, and observational notes, was used to determine the effect(s) of word processing on the revising/editing strategies of these students. Of the four major revision …

A Study Of Children's Television Viewing Patterns, Ronald D. Gorman

Theses : Honours

This study examines the television viewing patterns of primary school children. The major questions this study asks are; -How much time do children spend watching television texts? -What types of programmes do children watch? -Who chooses what children watch? Previous work on children's television viewing patterns is discussed; this indicates that (a) viewing patterns are influenced by the age of the child and the mode of access available to the child, and (b) educators are responsible for the development of children's visual literacy. To ascertain the nature of children's television viewing patterns, a questionnaire was administered and viewing record timetables …

Factors Related To The Amount Of Time Children Spend In Leisure Reading, Dorothy Doig

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the amount of time children spend in leisure reading and the variables of reading achievement, reading attitude, amount of television viewed, access to interesting materials in the home, competing leisure interests and gender. The subjects were 115 Year 6 children from 4 classes in Perth's northern suburbs. Reading achievement was measured using PAT Comprehension and PAT Vocabulary, Form A, Part 5. The Elementary Reading Attitude Survey measured attitude to recreational reading and attitude to academic reading, The Leisure Activities Questionnaire provided information on the amount of time devoted to …

The Pursuit Of Fulfilment: Desire In Peter Carey's Illywhacker, Jonas Byford

Theses : Honours

This paper is a close textual analysis exploring the different levels at which desire is manifest in Peter Carey's lllywhacker. It attempts to show how desire, and the expectation of its fulfilment, have the effect of propelling the narrative and implicating the reader in the text. It is also the aim of the paper to argue that, despite aU Ilfywhacker's gestures to the contrary. and its expectation of fulfilment, at no level is this desire realized in the novel. It should be stated that this is not an evaluative judgement...

Strategies Used By Beginning Class Iii And Iv Rural School Principals In Dealing With Problems Encountered In The Initial Stages Of Their Appointments, Gail Marguerite Mclay

Theses : Honours

In Western Australia, in the last decade, there can be little doubt that educational leaders at all levels have faced substantial changes in their roles. New dimensions have been added to the role of principal and this emergent role is yet to be clearly identified. Principals are no longer solely conduits for centrally determined policies. They are now expected to undertake responsibilities such as school development planning, school based decision making and managing school grants. The appointment of a teacher to the principalship of the smaller rural school, in this study a Class III or IV school, is a significant …

The Effects Of Gender And Prior Computing Experience On Computer Use And Attitudes To Computers In Pre-Primary Schools, Helen Blackley

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of gender and prior computing experience on the attitudes of pre-primary age children to computers, and the extent and nature of their use of computers. The study involved 46 five-year old children from two pre-.primary schools in the Perth metropolitan area. The method incorporated three data-gathering approaches characteristic of the 'descriptive' method of research "- observation of the children; interviewing the children; and parental questionnaire. The major finding of the study concluded that, in this instance, gender and prior exposure to computers were not factors affecting pre-primary children's use of …

Application Of Expert System Techniques For Award Implementation, Seng-Choon Yeoh

Theses : Honours

This paper describes a pilot expert system project, PESWEA, developed in conjunction with The Western Australian Government Railways Commission (Westrail), to locate and implement an expert system pilot solution to the problems and complexities of the awards. The paper will outline the process used to develop and implement a solution to a business requirement. In particular, the methodologies for the project, shell selection, and knowledge acquisition will be presented and discussed. The fundamentals of expert systems will be discussed to provide the reader an insight into the technology. In addition, this paper reviews the literature relevant to the research questions. …

A Gender Analysis Of Teacher Feedback In Coeducational Secondary Physical Education Lessons, Paul R. Watson

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the verbal feedback distribution patterns of teachers in coeducational secondary physical education lessons were gender equitable. Previous literature indicated that inequality in verbal interaction and feedback existed in coeducational secondary physical education classes. This inequality tended to favour males to the disadvantage of females.

Fourteen lessons by male teachers and fourteen lessons by female teachers were video-recorded. The study utilized a modification of the systematic behaviour observation instrument developed by Siedentop (1983). Data obtained were categorized for analysis and interpretation. Statistical procedures were applied to establish the significance of the findings. …

Factors In The Non-Recognition Of Overseas Qualifications: The Case Of Medical Practitioners, Christine V. Farag

Theses : Honours

The overseas qualified doctor is a potential threat to the state-sanctioned control practising doctors have over medical knowledge in Australia. The nonrecognition of qualifications of many migrant and refugee doctors, in particular from non-English speaking background (NESB) countries, presses them into a subordinate relationship lo that of registered practitioners. The ownership of medical knowledge is limited lo state-recognised practitioners, thus allowing them to maintain significant economic and social advantage within the general community. The relationship between qualified practitioners and the state is indicative of a particular dynamic in which some individuals are able to exclude others by mechanisms of social …

Postmodernist Writings, Realist Readings: Peter Carey's Bliss And The Tax Inspector, Antonio Jose Dos Santos Simoes Da Silva

Theses : Honours

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Pulmonary Artery Pressure Measurements In The Supine And Lateral Positions, Leanne Maree Aitken

Theses : Honours

Pulmonary artery pressure monitoring, with the patient in both the supine and lateral position, constitutes an essential element of assessment in the critically ill. Previous work offers conflicting results regarding the accuracy of pulmonary artery pressure measurements obtained with the patient in the lateral position. Additionally, recent studies question the most appropriate thoracic surface landmark for use as the zero point for pulmonary artery pressure monitoring. The purpose of this study was to identify a reliable surface landmark to be used as the zero point for pulmonary artery pressure monitoring, as well as to determine if use of that zero …

Student Perceptions Of The Transition From Year 10 To Year 11, Tim Mcdonald

Theses : Honours

Issues associated with the transition from Year 10 to Year 11 have largely been ignored by researchers. Previous research has predominantly focussed on the primary to secondary transition experience. The existing problem of lower school to upper school transition has been compounded by the increased importance of upper school and the rising retention rates. This study investigated student perceptions of the transition from Year 10 to Year 11. It explored student concerns encountered in the transition and the differences they perceived between Year 10 and Year 11 after having entered Year 11. A case study approach, incorporating both qualitative and …

The Educational Aspirations Of Upper Primary Non English Speaking Background Students In A Mainstream Government School, Shirley Lienert

Theses : Honours

Researchers have described Non English Speaking Background (NESB) students as educationally disadvantaged but recent statistics show that some NESB students are actually outstripping their English Speaking Background (ESB) peers in educational achievement. In this study 121 students in upper primary classes in a Western Australian government school were surveyed so that NESB and ESB students could be identified and the proportion of NESB students within the sample group established. Information was gathered from both NESB and ESB students by administering a sociogram, the Lawseq test and a Likert scale questionnaire with variables of attitudes towards school, attitudes towards teachers1 influence …

Fitness Levels Of Children From Seven To Twelve Years At A Government Primary School In Western Australia, Susan Mccarrey

Theses : Honours

A School Development Plan is a process by which a school can function and develop school-based curricula. Performance indicators should be established for all subject and administrative areas within the school. These indicators need to be assessed and evaluated by the use of a Management Information System (MIS) designed to suit each area of the school. To establish performance criteria and a MIS in physical education, it is important to determine the level at which the children are performing. This study was designed to assess the fitness levels of all children aged 7 to 12 years attending a selected school …

Costing Employee Absenteeism At Three Local Organisations, Justin Ponton

Theses : Honours

This thesis looks at a methodology that can be used to cost a specific human resource activity - absenteeism. It applies the costing framework established by Cascio (1991) to three local organisations, with differing results and reactions. The cost of absenteeism ranged from $461 per employee up to $1,454 per employee per annum. Other costing techniques for Human Resource Departments are also looked at, but the main thrust of this thesis is the costing of absenteeism. Absenteeism is studied in terms of its causes, costs, and possible solutions. Each of three organisations studied, is discussed in terms of the cost …

A Case Study Of Professional Ballroom Dance Instructors, Diana Jonas-Dwyer

Theses : Honours

This study investigates factors that influence both full time and part time ballroom dance instructors engaged in competitive and non-competitive dance instruction. A case study approach has been adopted to describe three dance instructors. Two of these instructors are a married couple who are full time professional ballroom dance instructors who are also the proprietors of a Perth metropolitan dance studio. The third professional instructor is a part time employee. The case study approach is utilized to gain insight into the perceptions of the instructors as to the demands that are made upon them. Participant observation, interview and documents are …

A Study Of The Methodologies Currently Available For The Maintenance Of The Knowledge-Base In An Expert System, Kai Teh

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research studies currently available maintenance methodologies for expert system knowledge bases and taxonomically classifies them according to the functions they perform. The classification falls into two broad categories. These are: (1) Methodologies for building a more maintainable expert system knowledge base. This section covers techniques applicable to the development phases. Software engineering approaches as well as other approaches are discussed. (2) Methodologies for maintaining an existing knowledge base. This section is concerned with the continued maintenance of an existing knowledge base. It is divided into three subsections. The first subsection discusses tools and techniques which aid the understanding of …

Staff Development Through The Colloquium Process, Tim Emery

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examines the Colloquium which is a professional development process used in Catholic schools. The Colloquium was designed to help people employed in catholic schools renew their vision of care and service to students and to seek to reshape the curriculum to reflect Gospel values more clearly. This thesis was a research evaluation of the Colloquium process and aimed to exploreits effectiveness in te1ms of its impact on the teachers and their work in Catholic schools. The study is based on the theoretical domains of faith development, school improvement end staff development. The design of the study involved before …

A Case Study Of Two Year Six Classes Involved In A Health-Related Fitness Intervention, Andrew T. Medland

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Children are not as active as they may appear and they do not voluntarily engage in moderate to high intensity activity as commonly perceived by the general public. With coronary heart disease risk factors now found to have origins in childhood there is a real need for children to adopt lifestyles that will produce healthier adults. In Perth the Western Australian Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition project (WASPAN) has been implemented, as a Year 6 intervention, addressing the problems of poor nutritional habits and low activity levels. The focus of this case-study was to describe the physical activity component of …

The A.D.E. Taxonomy Of Spreadsheet Application Development, Maria Jean Hall

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Spreadsheets are a major application in end-user computing, one of the fastest growing areas of computing. Studies have shown that 30% of spreadsheet applications contain errors. As major decisions are often made with the assistance of spreadsheets, the control of spreadsheet applications is a matter of concern to enduser developers, managers, EDP auditors and computer professionals.

The application of appropriate controls to the spreadsheet development process requires prior categorisation of the spreadsheet application. The special-purpose A.D.E. (Application, Development, Environment) taxonomy of spreadsheet application development was evolved by mathematical taxonomic methods to categorise spreadsheet development projects to facilitate their management and …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Reading From A Vdu And From Paper As Measured In Terms Of Reading Speed And Comprehension, Elizabeth Payumo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study investigates the legibility and visual effects of eight combinations of font and colour on VDU and two different fonts on paper. Forty subjects, sixteen females and twenty-four males, were exposed to three of the ten different conditions, one in each of the set of readings, on either VDU or paper. They were asked to read different sets of stories in each condition on different days where each condition lasted for approximately two hours. Reading speed and comprehension scores were measured in every story read in the set of stories. The change of mood and physical symptoms states of …

Reasons For The Underrepresentation Of Females At Head Of Department Level In Physical Education In Government Secondary Schools In Western Australia: Perceptions Of Female Physical Education Teachers, Regina D. Bloot

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study focuses on reasons why so few females hold Head of Department positions in physical education in government secondary schools in Western Australia. Despite the almost equitable proportion of females and males teaching the subject, and the absence of Ministry of Education policy constraints on female promotion since 1972, females remain grossly underrepresented in leadership roles. In 1991, women held only five (7%) of the 70 substantive Head of Department appointments. Individual indepth interviews were used as the means of data collection to document female teachers' own accounts of their lives, career aspirations, and what they perceived to be …

The Effects Of Participation In A Socio-Psychoeducational Resource Centre Programme On The School Behaviour Of Primary School Boys With Behavioural And Emotional Problems, Lynn E. Priddis

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examined the relationship between child and family factors, treatment approaches, and behavioural outcomes in a socio-psychoeducational resource centre for children with behavioural and emotional problems. Twenty four boys aged between five and twelve years on entrance to the centre were rated on “A Children's Behaviour Questionnaire for Completion by Teachers - Child Scale B” (Rutter, 1967). Data was also collected on the following variables: reading achievement, intelligence, problem severity, problem type, family disturbance, family involvement, and child living situation. On the basis of the type of problem the boys presented with they were selected for an additional therapy …

Youth Worker Perceptions Of Abused Young Women, Suzie Omelczuk

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Youth workers across Australia are coming into contact with young women who have been abused. However, the nature of that contact, and the ways in which youth workers are responding to these young women is not known. The aim of this study is to determine how youth workers in the metropolitan area of Perth perceive and act upon issues of abuse faced by the young women using their services. The study draws upon literature dealing with issues of abuse facing children and young people. Within the study issues such as problems arising from trying to define abuse are examined, as …

The Effect Of Canteen Menu On Nutritional Knowledge, Attitudes And Behaviour Of Year Five Students, Sharon Mcbride

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Eating habits are learned during childhood, and patterns of behaviour established in childhood have important health ramifications throughout life. Over half of all deaths in Australia are linked to diet with over-consumption of saturated fat, sugar and salt, and lack of fibre being identified as particular problem areas. Nutrition education is an important component of primary health education curricula, and yet school canteens, and integral part of the school environment, do not necessarily offer healthy food choices that support nutrition instruction in the classroom. This study investigated the effect of canteen menu on student knowledge and attitudes toward nutrition and …

An Evaluation Of The Deputy Principals' Leadership Development Program, Ronald F. Chalmers

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The Deputy Principals' Leadership Development Program (DPLDP) was researched and developed by the Calgary Board of Education from 1983 to 1987. It was conducted for the first time in Western Australia when deputy principals from schools in the Narrogin Education District participated in the program during the period 1989-91. This study is an evaluation of the DPLDP. It was designed to determine whether there is justification for the continued use of the program as a means of enhancing the instructional leadership capacities of deputy principals in the Narrogin Education District. This research is located within the naturalistic paradigm. It can …

An Evaluation Of The Procedures Used To Assess And Remediate The Perceived Writing Difficulties Of Undergraduate Students In The Faculty Of Education At Edith Cowan University, Les Puhl

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The standards of written literacy of teacher-education students at Edith Cowan University are perceived by many staff to be inadequate. The Faculty of Education's response to this perceived inadequacy is to carry out a mandatory skills-based remedial writing programme for students whose literacy competencies are judged to be deficient, The instrument used to assess the students' literacy competencies is the English Skills Assessment test. The students' performances in the various skills which the test purports to measure, also determine the area in which they are given remedial instruction if the results of the test suggest this is necessary. However, many …